Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022

The Government of Rajasthan has passed the Rajasthan Right to Health Care Act 2022 in the Assembly, making it the first state to do so in India. The bill gives every resident of the state the right to avail free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In Patient Department (IPD) services at all public health facilities. Additionally, similar healthcare services will be provided free of cost at select private facilities. The bill guarantees 20 rights to the residents of the state and is based on Article 47 and the expanded definition of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Criticism
According to the analysis by non-profit PRS Legislative Research the bill does not mention whether private healthcare professionals will be reimbursed by the government. They further stated, "If the government does not reimburse the cost, the private establishments will have no revenue, and would likely shut down.” The implementation of the act would increase the expenditure of the state budget and no additional arrangements to cover the costs have been made by the government. The act also threatens bureaucratic interference in the working of doctors and healthcare professionals. Rajathan doctors have accused that this bill will increase the incdence of violence against doctors. The bill is accused of not appropriately defining the term emergency. The government is accused of using the act to win elections in the upcoming 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election.

Protests
The act was passed in the Rajasthan assembly among protests by healthcare professionals. To oppose the provisions of the act, the Indian Medical Association called for country wide protests and threatened to shut countrywide services. All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association (ARISDA) has also called for shut down of healthcare services in the state. The protestors have met with government opposition as police used water cannon and baton charge against the protestors.