India, March 21 -- In order to ensure that the poor get adequate medical treatment at all charitable hospitals in Maharashtra, the state Assembly cleared an amendment in Maharashtra Public Trusts Act on Thursday, which mandates that all charitable hospitals that have taken monetary concessions and exemptions either from the state or central government or the municipal corporation, follow the charity bed rules.

While in the existing policy states that the hospitals that have taken lands on lease from the government reserve beds for the underprivileged, the amendment brings more clarity to the rule.

Section 41AA of the act mandates charitable hospitals must reserve 20% of the beds for patients who cannot afford basic healthcare out of whi...