Estate Officer issues notice to 6 pvt hospitals in Mohali
Mohali, March 6
The Estate Officer has issued notices to six private hospitals — Max Hospital, IVY Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Mayo Hospital Indus Hospital and one other — under Section 45 (3) of the Punjab Regional Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, for not utilising their basement parking for the intended purpose.
The issue was raised by Kulwant Singh during the Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He said patients, schoolchildren, and residents of the area get stuck in traffic jams due to the haphazard parking of vehicles by attendants of patients near these hospitals. He asked the councillors present at the meeting if any place was allocated by GMADA for parking vehicles and whether it was being used for the intended purpose.
MLA Kulwant also said schoolchildren often miss classes due to traffic jams near the main road in Phase 6, and ambulances bringing patients to these hospitals get stuck in these jams, resulting in delay in treatment.
He added that inside the complex, the attendants jostle for space in narrow lanes and often have to park their vehicles in cramped spaces.
He added that near Fortis Hospital in Sector 62, attendants park their vehicles on the internal road on both sides, which restricts the movement of normal traffic.
Mohali MLA questions Health Minister
At the Budget meeting on March 5, the AAP MLA asked the Punjab Health Minister, “What is the total amount that Max Hospital authorities have deposited with the government so far, and what part of that money is being used for the betterment of Mohali residents? How much money has been earmarked for treatment of the underprivileged?”
The Health Minister stated that around Rs 138 crore has been received so far, of which Rs 40 crore has been spent on medicines, adding that the previous government had not set any condition for free treatment of patients from underprivileged sections at private hospitals.
He said, “This condition has been added by the present government.”
Responding, a Max Hospital spokesperson said, “We have been running the hospital in PPP mode under a concession agreement with the Punjab Government and have been abiding by all terms and conditions mentioned in it.”
On March 1, 2021, the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Cabinet approved the transfer of 0.92 acres of land from the Health Department to the 200-bed Max Hospital. The Health Department entered into a concession agreement with Max Healthcare to transfer the said land to Phase 6 Civil Hospital.
In addition to Rs 389.57 lakh as an upfront fee for the land, the government would get 5 per cent of the gross revenue generated by the hospital after the addition of the new beds.
The Estate Officer said further action would be initiated after a response from the hospitals.
AAP MLA questions Health Minister
AAP MLA Kulwant Singh asked the Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, “What is the total amount that Max Hospital authorities have deposited with the government so far, and what part of that money is being used for the betterment of Mohali residents? How much money has been earmarked for treatment of the underprivileged?”
