The Supreme Court has issued notice on a petition challenging government regulations that call for uniform rates for ophthalmological procedures across the country.
The Bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Prasanna B Varale on Wednesday observed that private hospitals built on subsidised lands, initially assured to reserve at least 25 percent beds for Economically Weaker Sections, but later, they backtracked and failed to fulfill their commitment.
The Bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Prasanna B Varale made the remark while hearing a petition challenging government regulations calling for uniform rates for ophthalmological procedures across the country.
The Apex Court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by the All-India Ophthalmological Society, which contended that the rates for procedures conducted by specialists could not be the same in metropolitan cities and small remote villages.
The Society was represented by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Advocate B Vijayalakshmi Menon.
During the course of hearing, the Bench asked the petitioner as to how could it challenge a policy like this? It noted that health care rates in the Northeast were very affordable and the same would get affected by the policy.
Noting that the issue has large ramifications, the Apex Court issued limited notice to the Attorney General and listed the matter for further consideration on April 17.