Private hospitals asked to treat acid attack victims

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 29

Private hospitals will not be able to shirk off their responsibility of providing free medical treatment, bed and food to acid attack victims.

Backed by the Central Government’s order that was issued in May this year, the government has now asked private hospitals not to refuse first aid and medical treatment to acid attack victims.

“The letters to officials concerned have already been issued for the compliance of the latest Central Government’s order. The order clearly states that an action can be initiated against hospitals for refusal to treat victims of acid attacks and crimes in contravention of the provisions of Section 357C of the code of criminal procedure, 1973,” said Om Prakash, Principal Secretary (Health).

According to these provisions, the private clinics and hospitals will be asked to issue certificates to the victims in case they come for first aid. If need arises, these certificates could be used for carrying out specialised treatment.

Though acid attacks have risen over the year, these were never categorised separately. In the aftermath of the 2013 brutal gang rape in a moving bus in New Delhi, the Penal Code was amended. Since then, acid attack has been made a punishable offence with 10 years in jail.

In view of the Supreme Court’s directives issued earlier, the Uttarakhand Government had set up a Nirbhay relief fund for the acid attack victims and has revised the assistance being under it from Rs 1.5 lakh to 3 lakh. The revision was undertaken in consonance with the Supreme Court directives. So far, only three victims have been able to access the funds for their treatment.

“A compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh was paid to a victim from Nainital in 2014 while two other cases had come before us from Pauri this year. The victims were disbursed Rs 10,000 and 20,000, respectively, as relief, ” said Mamta Bohra, Additional SP.

The victims can also appeal before the District Legal Service Authority, in case, they are not satisfied with the relief.