Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Now patients living Below Poverty Line will not have to pay any fee for treatment at Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center (BMHRC).
Along with BPL card holders, such patients who do not have a poverty line card, but are poor and helpless, will also be given free medical facility.
Director-in-charge of BMHRC Dr. Manisha Srivastava, has issued orders in this regard after getting permission from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
₹10 registration fee
Till now only ₹10 registration fee was charged from BPL card holders and no fee was charged for admission in the ward. However, a fee was charged for investigation, operation and other medical services. From now on, all medical services will be provided to BPL patients completely free of cost.
She informed if a patient is unable to produce BPL card but is actually poor and helpless, then after examining his condition, the expenses incurred on his treatment can also be waived.
Welfare unit at BMHRC
For this, a Medical Social Welfare Unit is being formed in BMHRC, which will help in connecting such patients with other government schemes including Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Any patient coming in emergency will be given immediate first aid and all the services till the first 24 hours of treatment or before admission will also be completely free. Even if the patient is alone or does not have any family, he will not be denied treatment.
Patient Welfare Fund to be formed
A 'Patient Welfare Fund' will be formed to help in the treatment of poor and helpless patients, in which money can be collected from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), public cooperation and donations and their treatment can be done.
Dr. Srivastava said that a detailed policy and guideline is being prepared in this direction so that this system can be implemented smoothly and needy patients can be given immediate relief.
