BJP wants ceiling on docs’ fees

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 JULY: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Malda has demanded that doctors would not be able to charge more than Rs 50 from a patient henceforth. The BJP has decided to launch a campaign on the issue from tomorrow.

In addition, the BJP has demanded some special service for patients including meetings between doctors and patients’ relatives at given hours in the Malda district hospital's visiting room.

Speaking on the issue the Malda CMOH, Dr Srikanta Roy said: “The BJP's demand to keep the visiting room open for meetings between doctors and patients’ relatives in the hospital is legitimate.

I have asked the hospital authority to keep the visiting room open for such meetings where doctors would be able to advise patients’ relatives.

Besides, we have planned to open a patient assistance centre for co-ordination between the doctors and the patients’ relatives,” said Dr Roy.

The CMOH also said: “We can appeal to the doctors against charging fee more than Rs 50 but can not force them. Moreover, there is no official guideline from the government on the subject either.” Speaking on the matter, the BJP state committee leader, Mr Asim Chakraborty said: “Patients’ relatives face severe inconvenience at the Malda district hospital due to lack of certain facilities. We demand rectification of the conditions.”