SAKSHI PARDHE

27 MARCH 2025

​The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union and Delhi governments to investigate whether Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is adhering to its obligation of providing free treatment to economically weaker sections (EWS). This directive stems from a 1994 lease agreement under which the hospital received 15 acres of prime land at a nominal rent of ₹1 per month, with the stipulation to allocate 30% of inpatient beds and 40% of outpatient consultations for free treatment to EWS patients.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh expressed concerns about the hospital’s compliance with these conditions. They have ordered a joint team from the central and Delhi governments to inspect the hospital’s records from the past five years to assess adherence to the free treatment mandate. The court emphasized that failure to comply could lead to transferring the hospital’s management to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). ​

The Supreme Court has also sought affidavits from both governments detailing whether the hospital’s lease, which expired in 2023, has been renewed and under what terms. Additionally, the court has requested information on the total number of hospital beds and records of outpatient services over the past five years to evaluate the extent of free treatment provided to poor patients.

This scrutiny follows previous legal actions highlighting the hospital’s non-compliance. In 2009, the Delhi High Court imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh on Apollo Hospital for denying free treatment to poor patients and engaging in frivolous litigation. The court had then mandated the hospital to immediately reserve one-third of its inpatient beds and 40% of its outpatient services for EWS patients.

The Supreme Court’s current directive underscores its commitment to ensuring that private hospitals, especially those benefiting from public resources, fulfill their social obligations towards providing healthcare to underprivileged sections of society.​

Sources