Himanta Biswa Sarma Calls Practice “Unconstitutional,” Warns Legal Action; 400 New Doctors Appointed
Guwahati,: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken a strong stand against private nursing homes illegally detaining dead bodies or prolonging hospital stays over unpaid bills, declaring such practices a violation of constitutional rights.CM Sarma emphasized that no law permits hospitals to withhold bodies or coerce families into settling dues. “Some nursing homes force grieving families to sell land or assets. This is illegal and inhuman,” he said, citing Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and dignity.To curb such exploitation, the State Health Department will soon launch a 24/7 helpline (102 or 103) for affected families. Police intervention will ensure the prompt release of detained bodies or patients.”The hospital can pursue dues legally, but holding bodies hostage is unacceptable. Even police require court orders to detain someone—how can private hospitals act above the law?” Sarma questioned. The issue will be addressed in the next cabinet meeting, with a policy decision expected within 1–2 days.The CM urged private hospitals to admit patients based on affordability, stressing transparency in billing. He also highlighted Assam’s healthcare growth, announcing 30 medical colleges by 2029 (up from 13 currently).In a parallel development, Sarma distributed appointment letters to 400 medical officers, taking total govt recruitments since 2021 to 1,20,359. “This reflects Assam’s progress in medical education and public healthcare,” he said at GMCH Bhangagarh.The move aims to protect vulnerable families from exploitation while strengthening Assam’s healthcare system.
