"Secondly, there is a complete lack of awareness among the patients from weaker sections. They do not know that they can walk into the nearest private hospital and demand treatment.
There is an urgent need to make such patients aware of their rights," said Dr Chaturvedi, who is also the Director of the Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

Newsline visited prominent private hospitals in the Capital to find that none of them complied with the lease agreement. At Max Hospitals, only two of the 18 beds kept for economically deprived patients were occupied. At GM Modi Hospital, 5 out 10 beds were occupied.

Despite High Court orders directing hospitals to make their bed occupancy public, Fortis Hospitals refused to reveal the number of beds available for BPL patients and stated that they were, `complying with all High Court orders'.

According to the High Court notification, hospitals are supposed to put up boards in Hindi clearly advertising the services available to BPL patients. The board -which lists the number of free beds, occupancy and availability, should be displayed at the Hospital's reception and outside the building.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital -- set up as a joint venture in which the city government holds 26 per cent stake -- is supposed to provide 200 free beds for poor patients in Delhi.

On Sunday, only 80 beds were occupied. "Besides free beds, the courts have also told hospitals to provide medicines to poor patients. A few hospitals have challenged the order. But most are not complying with the lease agreement. We need more frequent inspections to ensure hospitals are keeping their end of the bargain," said J P Singh, Health Secretary, Delhi government.