Mumbai, 26th August 2016: Association of Hospitals (AOH) is one of the oldest and trusted associations in healthcare of Mumbai. The member hospitals of AOH have set up an Indigent Patient Fund where The Trust Hospital annually sets aside at least 2% of their annual turnover to treat Indigent and Weaker Section patients. All the trust hospitals associated with Association of Hospitals are following the provisions of Sec. 41AA of Maharashtra Public Trust Act 1950 and SCHEME framed by Bombay High Court. The Trust Hospitals are not receiving any exemption/concessions in payment for Octroi, Property Tax, electricity, Custom Duty etc. since more than 10 years which they used to get earlier.
“The authorities from office of Charity Commissioner and other Govt. departments keep inspecting the charitable hospitals from time to time and are generally satisfied with the implementation of the SCHEME. Whenever they point out improvement areas the same were complied with promptly. The charitable hospitals send the reports in real time to office of the charity commissioner about status of occupied and vacant charitable beds. Monthly reports giving all details are also filed with the office of Charity Commissioner. No hospital has received notice regarding refusal to treat poor patients and in fact no eligible poor patient has been denied the available treatment and many hospitals continue to treat poor patients even though their IPF (Indigent Poor Fund) is in the negative balance” said Association of Hospitals.
“Medical expenses are witnessing a steep rise in today’s age. It is very difficult for a common man to manage the expenses for sudden medical emergencies. With trust hospitals in the scenario all sections of society are able to receive the same medical services. Trust Hospitals cater to weaker section of the society and treat them either free or at concessional cost. The member hospitals of AOH are giving & will continue to give the best medical treatments to improve the overall healthcare sector of India” AOH further added.
Indigent Patient Fund is used for providing treatment in The Trust Hospitals either free or at negligible cost. The Trust Hospital also provides concessions to other penurious patients. These facilities are provided only to the genuinely needy people who are unable to pay for minor or major treatments for a healthy living. In certain cases AOH member hospitals have invested more than its capacity to provide best healthcare services to the patients from the weaker section of the society.
About Association of Hospital:
The Association of Hospitals has been formed under the Memorandum dated August 6, 1985 and is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Association is also registered under Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950 as Public Charitable Trust with the office of Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State.
Presently there are 50 members of the Association and all of them are Public Charitable Trust Hospitals registered under Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950 with the concerned offices of Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State depending upon the Jurisdiction. The members being not-for-profit charitable hospitals render yeomen service to the public and bear a major share of healthcare service to the people.