The Delhi High Court noted the city government’s decision raising the income cap to Rs five lakh for EWS patients. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet P S Arora said treatment covers government and concessional-land hospitals.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has acknowledged the submissions from the city government regarding an increase in the income threshold to Rs five lakh annually for individuals seeking free treatment under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in hospitals built on concessional land.
A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet P S Arora clarified that this facility is available at all government hospitals and private institutions constructed on land allocated at reduced rates.
The court issued this order after the Delhi government reported that the relevant authority had approved the rise in the EWS criteria from an annual income of Rs 2.20 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
The court stated,
“All persons who wish to avail of health facilities in Delhi would now be entitled to take benefit under the EWS criteria of Rs.5,00,000/-, upon satisfying the necessary pre-conditions. The said enhancement would apply to all government hospitals across Delhi and all identified private hospitals built on land allotted at concessional rates, where the EWS norms are applicable,”
The bench instructed the authorities to ensure adequate public awareness regarding this enhancement so that citizens can benefit from it.
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In a significant effort to broaden access to free healthcare for low-income families, the Delhi government has increased the annual income ceiling from Rs 2.20 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) patients eligible for complimentary treatment in designated private hospitals.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) announced the revised eligibility criteria on Friday, following directives from the Delhi High Court and a review by a special committee tasked with reassessing the income threshold. This new standard will apply to all qualifying patients seeking no-cost treatment at empanelled private hospitals throughout the capital.
The order specifies that this enhancement aligns the medical income ceiling with the criteria that already exist for EWS admissions in private schools within Delhi, a point previously highlighted by the court. The earlier threshold was considered insufficient given the current economic conditions.
The issue was brought to the attention of the High Court by amicus curiae Ashok Agarwal, which led the bench to instruct the Delhi government to investigate the situation. Agarwal noted that this decision will enable more impoverished patients, including those from outside Delhi, to access free treatment at private healthcare facilities.
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He stated,
“62 large private hospitals are legally bound to provide 10% free inpatient care and 25% free outpatient care to EWS patients. There are over 1,000 free beds in these hospitals. Poor patients can walk in free and walk out free.”
According to current regulations, private hospitals in Delhi that have been allocated public land at concessional rates are required to offer complimentary treatment to EWS patients, who may come from anywhere in the country, not just the capital.
The court was addressing a suo motu case initiated in 2017 concerning a reported lack of critical care in government hospitals.
It had earlier tasked the AIIMS director with overseeing the execution of the recommendations made by the Dr. S K Sarin committee, which highlighted numerous shortcomings in the healthcare system, including unfilled positions, a shortage of essential faculty, and infrastructural issues.
Lawyer Ashok Agarwal was appointed as the amicus curiae in this matter.
Case Title: Court On Its Own Motion v. Union Of India & Ors