Nation’s first ‘Health Court’
On 2nd September 2014, Karnataka became the first state in the country to establish a Health Adalat. It is set up by the State Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader in Gulbarga.
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As per the 21st Century Health Court Proposal of the Trustees of Boston University, “Health courts are a vehicle for redesigning medical injury adjudication so that it supports, rather than impedes efforts to reduce iatrogenic injury through greater professional candor about medical error.”
The purpose to open a health court is to have a platform where health issues could be addressed at a grass root level. The court will also ensure that all health facilities extended by the government reach all sections of society on time. During the proceedings, the court will try to discuss various health issues of the people and efforts would be made for a quick solution. The Department of Health and Family Welfare will take necessary steps and conduct workshops to create awareness about government programs and their benefits. They have also established this court with the aim of bridging a gap between the government and the people.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Government has decided not to implement any new health program in the state for the next three years. The authority will try to concentrate more on the effective implementation of the already existing schemes and on the newly developed health court.
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Though the notion of a health court is first in India, there are other health courts in different parts of the world. In February 2011, President Barack Obama had announced a $250 million fund in the fiscal year 2012 budget for medical malpractice reforms, with special emphasis on health courts.
The idea to set up one in Karnataka was formed after repeated complaints by the public about the lack of medical facilities in government hospitals. Health courts can help in decreasing administrative costs, along with providing access to compensation for injured patients. By using trained judges and experienced doctors & experts, the health court aims to achieve fair outcomes at a lower cost.
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