The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra State Branch, has raised concerns over the state government's directive mandating hospitals to provide immediate emergency treatment without insisting on advance payment. The order, issued following a Bombay High Court directive, aims to ensure timely care for patients during medical emergencies. While the IMA supports the objective of saving lives and providing emergency treatment, it has termed the directive impractical in its current form due to operational and financial challenges faced by private hospitals.
According to the association, the directive does not clearly define what constitutes an emergency, nor does it specify a reimbursement mechanism for hospitals treating patients unable to pay. The IMA also highlighted that many small and rural hospitals lack the infrastructure, manpower, and specialist support required to comply…
