Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022

Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Long title Providing free health care to the citizens of the state even in private hospitals
Citation	Bill No. 21, Year 2022
Territorial extent	Rajasthan
Passed by	Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Passed	21 March 2023
Signed by	Kalraj Mishra (Governor)
Signed	12 April 2023
Commenced	12 April 2023
Legislative history
Bill title	Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022
Introduced by	Parsadi Lal Meena (Health Minister)
Introduced	22 Sep 2022
Committee responsible	Select committee (parliamentary system)
Status: In force

The Government of Rajasthan has passed the Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022 ^[1] in the Assembly, making it the first state to do so in India. The bill gives every resident of the state the right to avail free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In Patient Department (IPD) services at all public health facilities. Additionally, similar healthcare services will be provided free of cost at select private facilities. The bill guarantees 20 rights to the residents of the state and is based on Article 47 and the expanded definition of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. ^[2]

Criticism

According to the analysis by non-profit PRS Legislative Research the bill does not mention whether private healthcare professionals will be reimbursed by the government. They further stated, "If the government does not reimburse the cost, the private establishments will have no revenue, and would likely shut down.” The implementation of the act would increase the expenditure of the state budget and no additional arrangements to cover the costs have been made by the government. The act also threatens bureaucratic interference in the working of doctors and healthcare professionals. ^[3] Rajasthan doctors have accused that this bill will increase the incidence of violence against doctors. ^[4] The bill is accused of not appropriately defining the term emergency. ^[5] The government is accused of using the act to win elections in the upcoming 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election. ^[6]

Protests

The act was passed in the Rajasthan assembly among protests by healthcare professionals. ^[7] To oppose the provisions of the act, the Indian Medical Association called for country wide protests and threatened to shut countrywide services. ^[8] All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association (ARISDA) has also called for shut down of healthcare services in the state. ^[9] The protestors have met with government opposition as police used water cannon and baton charge against the protestors. ^{[10] [11]}

See also

• Violence against healthcare professionals by country

References

1. Govt. of Rajasthan, Department of Medical, Health & Family Welfare (8 March 2022). "Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022" (PDF). Department of Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Rajasthan. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
2. "Rajasthan Assembly passes Right to Health Bill: Treatment free now at govt facilities, select private hospitals". The Indian Express. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
3. "Rajasthan Right to Health Bill: What the provisions say, why it is seeing opposition and protests". The Indian Express. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
4. www.ETHealthworld.com. "Right to Health Bill 'Unthoughtful, Populist and Over Enthusiastic': Doctors - ET HealthWorld". ETHealthworld.com. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
5. "Right to Health Bill will create trouble… Health secy has brainwashed govt that they will get so many votes. They will not get any: Rajasthan IMA chief". The Indian Express. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
6. Barnagarwala, Tabassum. "What Rajasthan's right to health law promises – and where it falls short". Scroll.in. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
7. "Rajasthan clears Right to Health Bill amid protests". Hindustan Times. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
8. Scroll Staff. "Indian Medical Association extends support to protest against Rajasthan's Right to Health Act". Scroll.in. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
9. "Right to Health Bill protest: No OPD services in govt hospitals across Rajasthan today". The Times of India. 29 March 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 29 March 2023.
10. "Rajasthan Right to Health Bill Protest: Jaipur Police Use Water Cannons to Disperse Doctors". News18. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
11. "Doctors on protest after colleagues in Rajasthan lathicharged by police". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.