Form committee to study health bill, say activists

Jaipur: Eighty-five civil society organisations working on health rights from across the state gathered in the city for taking part in one-day state-level consultation of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Rajasthan, in the city on Tuesday. They expressed concern over the long delay on part of the government in bringing the Right to Health Act.
JSA raised the demand for the formation of the Select Committee without any delay to incorporate necessary amendments to the "Rajasthan Right to Health Bill 2022" tabled by the government in the state assembly on September 22, 2022 and to pass the bill as soon as possible.
"A letter signed by the health secretary of the state instructed the divisional joint directors to contact the private doctors in their area and collect their views and suggestions on the Bill. However, no such process has yet been initiated by the government to seek suggestions from the civil society," said Chhaya Pachauli, state coordinator, JSA.
Suggestions from representatives of private sector doctors, who had been opposing certain provisions of the Bill, and the civil society representatives should be taken so that concerns of both the sides can be considered and resolved amicably.
"We demand that people should get easy access to healthcare facilities and it should be guaranteed. Also, there should be provisions to appeal in the court if a patient does not get guaranteed treatment under the Act," said Rajan Chaudhary, a health rights activist from Jhunjhunu, who has worked for saving girl child.
"More than two months have passed but the Select Committee has not been formed due to which the whole process of bringing the Act is now in limbo," said Brij Mohan Sharma, a social activist from Sirohi.