New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has said
that Below Poverty Line (BPL) families should be allowed to
avail public health facilities in government hospitals across
the country and not just in their home states.
Pointing to the problems faced by migrant workers in
accessing public health facilities, the court said there was
no assurance of portability of the schemes across the states,
which prevented the benefit from reaching the needy.
"If a person is declared BPL in any state and is availing
public health services in any part of the country, he or she
should be assured of continued availability of such access to
services wherever such a person moves," Justice S Murlidhar
said.
The court passed the order while hearing a petition filed
by a migrant labourer who lost his wife after failing to get
proper medical care for her during delivery of child in Delhi
as their BPL card was issued in Bihar.
It also directed the health departments of the NCT and
Haryana governments to devise formats of registers to be
maintained by medical officers who are supervising the work of
various welfare schemes.
PTI
