To provide dignity to the deceased, the Assam Government has directed all nursing home or hospital in the State not to hold a body ‘hostage’ over unpaid bills.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, said, “Often we hear the complaint that nursing homes have kept the bodies of the deceased as mortgage unless the relatives pay the pending bills.”
He remarked that this was against human dignity. Accordingly, the State Cabinet has decided that if any nursing home does this, its license will be suspended for 3-6 months and it will be fined ₹5 lakh.
The Chief Minister warned that repeat offences may result in cancellation of the license permanently.
The Government has also decided to set up a 24×7 toll-free helpline number 104, and families will be able to report non-release of bodies on this number. The Cabinet has approved the draft Standard Operating Procedure and regulatory guidelines to prevent coercive practices by private nursing homes in the State.
