good evening and one day we were watching Breakingviews, the show where we get you all the views so that you get the complete picture. Now there is something very strange happening in Rajasthan. After the budget Rajasthan government budget, an announcement was made. A bill was introduced by the Rajasthan government called the right to Health Bill and since then, all private doctors, clinics, facilities, medical facilities across the state are on strike. There is a medical emergency in the state of Rajasthan. What doctors are opposing the right to help. First, let's try to understand what exactly has happened. So what is the right to health act in Rajasthan? It has been introduced by the Ashok Gay Lot government. So this act says that there is a right to free emergency treatment without pre payment of fee. State government is liable to reimburse. Private facilities of patients are unable to pay post treatment. Basically, this means that in a private clinic or a hospital, anyone can go a veil of the facilities get treated and then if that person is too poor to pay, the doctors in the hospital cannot force people to pay the right to avail. free healthcare at public and select private facilities right to choose where to procure medicines and get test done. Private hospitals will provide emergency service of government, hospitals are not capable, and hospitals and doctors will have to pay fines up to ₹25,000. If this act is violated now, it is this act and certain provisions of this act which have which has not gone down well with private doctors in the state. Why are they protesting? Let's tell you that private doctors have gone on strike and have halted all services in the state. They say the government is shifting its own responsibility to private doctors, emergency cases not clearly defined by the acts of who defines what is an emergency for an individual something maybe an emergency. But in medical terms, it may not really be an emergency. The act, doctors say, may provoke patients family to assault. If healthcare is denied, doctors are vulnerable to the winds of state health authorities. No transparency in how government will reimburse the private facilities, no provision in budget for reimbursing private facility. So the government says that it will provide a reimbursement. But where is the budgetary allocation. Remember, I spoke about the budget. Rajasthan government has presented an extremely ambitious budget in the run up to elections. Now what? All is going to be free under this new law and what constitutes an emergency according to the government accidents, animal bites, pregnancy complications and other emergencies defined by state health authorities. This, the doctors say, is a certain amount of ambiguity which needs to be addressed. So this brings us to the most important question. And before we ask that question, one has to understand that this strike has led to a situation where patients are suffering. You see, not everyone can go to a government hospital. The private hospitals provide much needed infrastructure, and when they are shut, the load on the government hospitals already under stress has increased manifold. The doctors say that they have their own logical reasons. The government on its park says that private facilities have received enough aid and assistance from the government. Surely they can do this much for the poor. So on Breakingviews, the question that we are asking is this. Why are Rajasthan doctors opposing a pro poor law? And who's explanation is better? I mean, do we need a law like this, perhaps Yes. Do we needed in its present form is can it be subjected to some improvement? Some of the doctors say yes. Others are saying scrap this law completely. It cannot exist in its present form. Left quickly. First, before we introduce our guests make you listen to some of the patients who are really suffering in the state because of the strike. Donna ball damage or serious, Rather charming a guy like included Goalie are nailing a doctor in any any any charge. Osama, Osama as much time again. And Jadzia Khanna Vienna Questioning guy Gar Gar A problem or a hard with Melinda to Max Ryklina You AJ Palombi I tickle be it Yah! Mahala Sayako Pattani A cop Kia over nafta Podunk Thai baht A problem? You're ready but she suffocated or a G s M m X regularly wait occurring. Hardly adamant, is it? Mac would problematic Department made a to get the axe. A map for businesses at the A K did frantically Pataki a bateau But chief jockey A to came everything Jack are applying with for today and the CIA the model of anyone all offseason Latakia Any orange barbeque? R k maroon mamma Say Yaya want regalia Elementary own lining? Yeah. Kagame battle a bonny present our garage A car even capsule like organic or statement 90. Well, about a joining us right now on this extremely important discussion because remember, people are suffering. And now more doctors are expressing their solidarity from neighbouring states as well. From Uttar Pradesh and other associations related to the Indian Medical Association Dr Ashok Sarda He is the mm past President Rajasthan State, I mean and also the national VP elect of Rakhi Rathore. BJP spokesperson Dr V. B. Singh is the principal and controller of the Gaol and Medical College in Ajmer. And in just a short moment will also be joined in by Dr Angela Abhijit, national spokesperson of the Congress Party Dr Shard A. I want to begin with you first. Why do you oppose the right to health act? What is wrong with the right to health act? What is wrong with providing free medical help to those who need it in the state of Rajasthan? See, the name of this act is not correct. This is not right to help. This is land phone accident. Emergency treatment, right to help Work includes so many things according to the literature of the definition of improves the complete state of being physical, mental and the spiritual. So if you consider health source there, so many things which are to be seen before implementing this law like to have like to have shelter and governmental peace have spiritual help. So this is not right to help. This is the right treatment with health is a broad perspective and it does not do it is not there in the you you will be accused of getting too hung up in the mechanics of what right to health is and just trying to understand from you because you know, been seeing pictures of the protest. There are people suffering right now in the entire state of Rajasthan. We have a weird situation where there is absolutely no clinic, no private hospital, no ambulance flying on the road. Only government establishment now clearly government establishment alone cannot support are the healthcare apparatus of the state. So if by extension you are requested to do the same or you are asked to do the same not requested. Where is the problem stiffy government find that government system is not complete. 27 All the citizens of India to the all of the population with so much of health burden of these institutions. So once you consider the private hospitals are making up as they are contributing more than 20% of the health cases the the Doctor Sarda The allegation is that the private hospitals would would love to get a land at affordable rate from the government would love to get all sorts of aid from the government. But when the government would want them to support the poor in the state, they would then a complaint that what will we do? This is your job, not our job. How do you respond to this allegation? Once you talk about, there are only one to do percent of the hospitals there there three of coastland of otherwise 98% of the private schools are made up by the own their the length is the market price building up and the fumes value cube the done by that operate himself and they all the things have been developed riding of this not by the government. So if government want to implement district. They could have wounds for a pilot project for initial one year to show the solidarity of the in the government institutions. If you are successful in this pilot project, then trying to take up in confidence to the private hospitals and the doctors of the state and then we will you must go for the second stay in the private know to be sing Dr V. P. Singh. How do you respond? Doctor Sharjah says that at least launch a pilot project first. Don't just straight away go for the jugular. Thank you. Very matte sank a for inviting me in a panel of dignitaries to discuss the very, as the important is so that is the right to help Bill, which is recently passed. It passed in the assembly of the before Star Replying your question, I tell you a few words and a few lines about the health places in the you know, the Rajasthan is the states where the old management was in port. I think you will reach the maximum health rated steps announced under fully implemented in the I, um, N J y mockumentary Mr Candy, Robi Rajasthan, Johanna and Movie um entry, which has been started with the five locks, are also risk our now it is October 25. So in the Rajasthan, the health facilities and the health schemes are very much are on top. I I can say this Bill Rajasthan right to help Bill is the Russian is the only states where our government, our CM, decided to be. Give this right poor people or the people of the Rajasthan of more than eight core persons. In this context that a state government led by the Chief Minister and the Health Minister and another Molly Storm You can say this is the real malice stores. I think in the country there is are not any other states well that this bill is there? No, that is true. But the interesting that also gives Dr Many doctors like Dr Sada They they shuttled to think of the consequences. They feel that many will have to shut shop. They will lose business because everything is according to them Very loosely defined. What constitutes an emergency? What is the whole model of reimbursement Saga? See when the bill is passed in the assembly, the government will decide government will define the emergency that the lowest you their love, will be home. Other, the rule will be home. They will decide they will define the emergency. They will define the way over the reimbursement. They have already decided that there is a single window or investment, and everything will be decided with with the consultation with this doctor's government doctor's private doctors, NGOs and even in the assembly room was was Was this act before being passed? Discuss. Let me ask this question of Dr Dr Angela Vijit Angela Budget of Did you consult the doctors in Rajasthan before going ahead Wheeler with the bill lives this mean On the face of it, it is it provides healthcare to all. It's a very noble cause. But how you practically achieve this? We have seen you've heard the concerns of private doctors assure. Know the first one? Let me just congratulate you know the government of Rajasthan, for what I feel is, as you put it, you know, it's a highly enlightened It's a broad base. Non discriminatory, humanistic Bill Ominami surprises thought there it wasn't there before. It's almost existential in its particular nature, and what can be better than a bill that serves to protect life. It is not sacrificed on the altar of commercialisation. Why, while I understand all of this financial Abhijit, my question is that right now you have a situation where all clinics, all private hospitals, all private facilities in a state which your party rules are shut. People do not have medical assistance, they're troubled. So who's to be blamed for a situation like this? The crisis is right now. The the bill was sent to a select committee. There were wide scale consultations before it has been passed, made into an act. So therefore, many things in any kind of bill know Bill is invaluable, right? You always improve on it, feel that whenever it's enacted, what are the kind of loopholes? What can be the lapses? What's the plugs that can be filled? I mean, even the Supreme Court goes back to its earlier judgments and revise is them continuously? So this it, given this backlash by the doctors, would you be willing to make changes as suggested, at least sit, sit with them and see how you can make this work? You know, you have must understand the spirit of the bill. It is a composite welfare scheme of Rajasthan that has the Chiron GB scheme that was earlier mentioned. You have urban mn Rageh. There is a composite programme of welfare is, um in Rajasthan and this is a part of that programme Now, if the crisis right now is that medical facility in the state has completely collapsed, it is at the mercy of only a few select government hospitals and government facilities. They're they're they're overworked and there is no of Raj ing know the negotiate. We are urging the doctors, community, the private doctors, nobody's against private doctors. We think that that their private medical institutions and practises are essential to a country like India mean the government certainly cannot cover them. The point is that sometimes what happens is when prompt action is needed. There is always other considerations. There is commercialisation that takes over and end up losing precious lives. This was meant to fill that Now if doctors have an issue, they will be We will talk with them about it. You know, doctors have gone on strike before One side a member. A lot of doctors went on Skype during reservations on the issue of reservations itself. So you know these it there they have certain fears. Now, Dr one cannot afford to be so casual about the fact that doctors have gone on strike. That it happened before. A lot of things happened before and we would not want them to happen again. Will you? Will you not admit that there is a huge crisis right now? Huge, massive crisis. People are all fear having too late. We have tried to convince him that this is in the benefit in the larger benefit of the welfare of the people. This is forward looking. This is an enlightened bill and yes, years. And the main demand is that this this law or the bill be taken back. No, look, this is a welfare measure. Look at the spirit of the bill. Look at our commitment to health and welfare. Now, if we there is enough evidence, there is anecdotal and formal evidence of gross commercialisation in many sectors are not saying that everyone is culpable. I'm just saying that this is to Samantha that now people have a problem. We will talk about it. Okay? This is the democracy. The rule of the BJP. How do you view these developments and do you think that this could have been handled better? We have a crisis that right now in the state, definitely. We are facing a kind of very serious medical emergency in the state. And from last 30 14 days, the medical facilities have come to a thanks. Still like a life situation in Rajasthan and the people they are suffering. I will say that people, the doctors, are also suffering. But there should be a solution. In fact, the irony is that the state government was not able to take the stakeholders into confidence. That is the basic problem. They were not able to convey their points to the doctors that why they want this kind of built. In fact, the doctors should be heard and there should be a middle way. We also want that the people of Rajasthan should, but definitely with amendments. As as you told this, there's no model of reimbursement. In fact, from their past experience day, the fellow panellists they mentioned your injury Johanna as well. I I just want to convey this that the during D. V. Johana, the doctors, they are not getting their amount in the not reimbursed on time and that is why they are protesting in this case because from their past experience, because the Rajasthan government has announces very so many schemes, but on ground level, their schemes are not implemented properly and this is the problem with the city. Johanna. Many big hospitals are not enrolled with Darren D. V. Johana and the and the hospitals who are enrolled. They don't get their reimbursement on time and that is the basic problem here. The definition of emergency is not clear. I say the government should stair step in and they should actually have a dialogue with doctors for viewers not know what this is A scheme that has been launched in Rajasthan by the Ashok Gala government. Where in correct me if I'm wrong, Dr Angela Vijit, where you provide some sort of an insurance to people, affordable health care and insurance where then they can go and a veil on his medical facilities. But do you hear what what Mr Rathore is saying? The problem is, doctors are not reimbursed on time. So given this track record there, questioning the efficacy of a scheme like right to health. Not this spirit of the scheme but its implementation. You know, locks of people have already benefited under the Chiron Gee V Johana. Many job cards have already been given under urban mn Rageh O P s has already been copious has already been enacted in the state, which is meant to benefit our ageing population in the best manner. Which brings me to my next question how we're going to fund so many schemes. I mean, we see it also, you don't break the budget, you know, sunk A. It's a Miss Noma. You don't have to break the budget to have welfare schemes, you know, even if they know how to one down on national health budget, the government has cut down. Ironically, in the years after cove it on the national health budget. Out you cover inflation. There is no increase at all. Um, in this a depreciation Can you imagine this reply? National health budget was 2.5% of the GDP is daily able to Okay, Rocky Rathore reply. See my point. Immediate prices while we While we discuss how noble this this bill is, we also have to keep in mind that Right now, the healthcare infrastructure in the state of Rajasthan has completely collapsed. It is that the Braves, your eye doctor doctor unsure, is claiming that they have spent a lot of amount on health infrastructure. I just want to shell some data with you. We have 80 trauma centres in Rajasthan, but none of that trauma centre has full faculty. In fact, all the medical colleges which were opened by the the state government. In fact most of them doesn't have any any neurosurgeon, any cardiac surgeon, anyone to take care in case of emergency. And that is a problem. In fact, I do agree with Dr Shata. They should have implemented this through their government hospitals like satellite, hospital or medical colleges. In fact, they have. They claimed that in 2018 they promised that the local people that they will bring our P H bill, but they should have his own know. You know, here's of the question Pakistan, How can it be justified that doctors almost hold the entire state to ransom? That you will decided he can justify that and can't grant? This is this is this is because of lack of they were not able to convey their point to the doctors in Rajasthan, and that is the problem. In fact, that is the the Commissioner Services Maintenance Act should be pressed into service. Let me ask that question to Dr Singh. They clinically definitely it should be there because the people are think provisions should be pushed into service right now. Whatever you can do you should do to give proper medical facilities to the people are because they are suffering and they are moving to other stage for do medical facilities. In fact, not each and everyone can move to understated. This is a very know high point. In fact, Dr Singh, do you feel in the state of Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act should be president to service? I don't think so. We can. We can resume the services after dialogue. This is not the way and to implement this also tell you that in the Rajasthan is only state. Well, the old district medical colleges for the Rocky I'm just for a harmless for every medical police. When we start the medical police at the embassy, it's labour. We have basis subjects. Neurosurgery. Kadek City deserved the trustee, Caro problem is Dr Sun right now. So I would have loved to go ahead and time. Dr Singh, That's the the the States in agree now that not the doctor actual. Average it. Dr V. V Sing and Dr Ashok Sarda. The only reason why we are discussing this. To not discuss how mobile the cause. Of course, everybody must get affordable. Help! It happens in many countries. But how effectively are we implementing it? And there is a crisis right now. Who is responsible for that crisis? And should doctors also who have gone on strike blame themselves in its good night?
