Days after the government agreed to bring in the private sector to check the spread of the deadly swine flu, Apollo -- one of the leading private hospital chains in the country -- has refused to offer treatment to the affected swine flu patients.
In a statement, Apollo said that they will not be able to provide quarantine or screening facilities for swine flu due to risk to other sensitive patients.
But the inside sources say that they are hesitant after the Reeda Sheikh case in which one hospital under the same group has been charged with negligence.
This statement has sparked off angry responses from both the central and the state governments.
"Mr Azad has said that legal action will be taken so that will be done," said Dinesh Trivedi , MoS, Health Ministry.
"We will take action and make sure they comply with us," said Kiran Walia, Health Minister, Delhi.
Public health officials managing the pandemic say it is the rich and famous who have derailed their programme. They have insisted on the involvement of private sector and now after the government has agreed, it is the private sector hospitals who are no longer so willing.
Most private sector institutions are ready to offer only outpatient testing facilities, including Apollo. The government believes their worry is that they are likely to lose money if treatment is offered.
Under the law every private hospital must keep 25 per cent of beds for poor patients, but few meet their mandate.
And though the government can force a private hospital to take swine flu patients in, right now, they are moving cautiously, preferring dialogue to confrontation.
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