BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh health department on Sunday has issued a circular to private hospitals to provide free treatment that would not just benefit acid attack victims, but emergency trauma and rape victims too.

Health department circular comes on the heels of Supreme Court directive to private hospitals to provide free treatment, including specialized surgeries, to acid attack victims on Friday.

Senior health official Dr K K Thassu said SC court made it mandatory for these hospitals to provide full and free medical treatment to the victims and hospitals or doctors 'turning away' such patients will be charged as a criminal offense.

Health department officials, including CMHO and civil surgeon have been instructed to monitor that free medicines, bed, rehabilitation and aftercare to such victims is not denied. Health department has also issued the circular to various doctors and others medical associations.

"Rape or serious patients will be given first aid and stabilized. If the hospital has specialised care facility, that too would be given for free to such victims. It would have to be long-term," said Dr Thassu.

Health department decision comes after a meeting with union health ministry officials.

Speaking to TOI, professor and head, Gandhi Medical College (GMC) department of burn and plastic surgery, Dr Arun Bhatnagar said, "There is a shortage of burn specialists and most private hospital lack exclusive facility for treatment of acid attack victims. However, given the resources basic primary care and follow up is possible."

Government-run Hamidia hospital has a 30 bed ICU dedicated for burn victims. "Early surgical treatment in case of burn and acid attack victims reduces deformity," he said.

