India, April 14 -- Last year, charitable hospitals in Pune districts spent Rs. 95.2 crore on treating patients free or at discounted rates under the Indigent Patients Fund (IPF) scheme. However, many such hospitals couldn't utilise all their funds due to patients' preferences, said the officials.

Dr H K Sale, chairman of the Association of Hospitals in Pune, claims that the IPF scheme at Charitable Hospital is benefiting the rich instead of the needy and eligible patients.

"Several hospitals have noticed a new trend in which ineligible patients are getting admitted to Charitable hospitals as paying patients for treatment. While receiving treatment, they present documents claiming to be eligible for the scheme and free treatment. With th...