Assam passes Bill to ensure basic healthcare

Assam probably became the first state in the country to make it mandatory for all hospitals, including the private ones, and nursing homes to provide free treatment for at least first 24 hours to emergency patients. The government passed a Bill in the Assembly on March 31 to this effect. The legislation ensures the people of Assam the right to basic healthcare.

The Assam Public Health Bill, 2010, which was passed unanimously in the Assembly, will come into effect from January 2011. Patients who cannot afford treatment at private hospitals or nursing homes may be shifted to government hospitals after 24 hours.

The Act makes it mandatory for all hospitals and nursing homes, government or private, to maintain appropriate protocol of treatment for first 24 hours to an emergency patient of any kind.

The Act guarantees people the right to appropriate medicines and right to effective measures for prevention, treatment and control of epidemic and endemic diseases.