BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday took a step towards ensuring better health service for the poor by directing private hospitals to offer twenty percent free treatment annually to people living below poverty line.The Court passed the directions after hearing an appeal by Kasturba Medical College Manipal and 28 others, who had moved the Court against the custom duties levied against them for importing machineries.The division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice A S Bopanna disposed of the 13yearold petition with the direction.In the matter that came up for hearing on Tuesday, the bench directed the hospitals to file their affidavit within a month to know any details related to the new scheme, which will be in effect for a period of twenty years.Stating that the same shall be placed before the Union Government through Assistant Solicitor General for consideration, the bench directed that the implementation should begin at least within six months after the affidavit is filed.Directing that Prasar Bharathi should advertise the free treatment facility available in the hospitals for those in need, the bench also directed the State Government to frequently issue press releases about the facility. In case the hospitals fail to implement the directions, the Court said that Central Government nominated agencies or authorities will look into the matter.The Court also directed the hospitals to maintain records of the treatment offered and the Central Government authorities would be permitted to scrutinise records pertaining to it. The hospitals are also asked to maintain records for a period of one year so that authorities can scrutinise the records.In case the parties agree to the HC directions, the Court has directed the Union Government to refund the bonds and bank guarantees, which will be deemed to cancellation. "Hospitals who do not file affidavit in a manner expressed hereby shall proceed in a consonance of Supreme Court direction dated October 24, 2010. Instant deliberation and order by Apex Court shall be carried out within six months from today," the bench observed.The petitioners had moved the HC challenging the show cause notice issued by the customs department in 1998 over the non payment of duty. The hospitals were given an exemption of import duties based on obligation by hospitals that ten percent of the inpatients below the income of Rs 500 are treated free of cost and forty percent outpatients are treated free in 1988.
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