Mumbai: The state government is all set to frame a policy for foreign patients who come here for medical treatments. The moves follows the spat between Egyptian national Shaimaa Selim (32), sister of Eman Ahmed (36), the world’s heaviest woman who died last week in Abu Dhabi, and the privately-run Saifee hospital’s Dr Muffazal Lakdawala. The conflict which took place in April this year, centred around Eman’s weight loss surgery and treatment. The incident spurred the state to draft new rules, and guidelines for foreign patients as well as protocols for treatment.
The state is expected to introduce this draft policy, which is meant for foreign patients seeking medical treatment in private or state/civic run hospitals, soon. Stringent rules, will govern the foreign patients’ admission to any hospital in the state. If the patient has a medical visa, it will have to be shown during admission along with their passport and visa details. Depending on the urgecy of the case, the hospital authorities may provide instant admission to the patient.
If the patient is travelling on any other visa, the information about the patient should be shared with the foreign registration office (FRO) along with all related documents to take prior approval for admission of the patient. Another point highlighted in the draft was the need for an interpreter. All dialogues should be on paper, especially for those patients who are unable to communicate in English. The information on their treatment would be documented by the hospital.
The state health minister, Mr Deepak Sawant has requested the Director of Health Services (DHS), the Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and experts from the medical fraternity to submit their suggestions for the draft.
Talking to The Asian Age, Dr Sawant, said, “The Eman incident taught us a few lessons. The draft framework is almost complete and will be introduced soon. It will ensure that there are no misunderstandings as we will make it compulsory for patients to have interpreters so that they are well versed with their treatment.”
