Press Coverage

• Paras is probably the first Indian hospital to take such an initiative in a bid to encourage patient voters to exercise their right to vote
• Patna DM praised the step and urged other hospitals to follow the same model
• The hospital will help transport patients who are in a condition to vote to polling booths; such patients will be accompanied by a doctor, nurse and paramedical staff

Patna, 07 May 2019: Paras HMRI super specialty hospital, Raja Bazaar, Patna has taken a praiseworthy initiative to transport patients admitted at the hospital (who are in a condition to vote) to polling booths falling in the Patliputra and Patna Sahib parliamentary constituencies. The initiative is one-of-its-kind to be taken by a hospital in India. To speed up the process of voting at the booths, the Paras Hospital management has urged the Patna District Magistrate, Ravi Kumar to install a ‘green corridor’ at these booths. Speaking highly of the step, Kumar appealed other local hospitals to follow suit and support the noble cause. Such patient voters will be safely transported to the booths under the special supervision of a team of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. Once they have cast their vote, they will safely be brought back to the hospital.

Dr Talat Halim, Regional Director of East, Paras Health gave the above information during a press meet organized in the hospital premises today. He said, “Patients willing and physically capable to vote will be taken to polling booths, along with their relatives/attendants. To promote the idea, we have put up appeal boards at various spots across the hospital building. Patients and their relatives can hand over their consent forms to the hospital management. Through the initiative, we intend to promote the idea of maximum voter turnout for safeguarding our democracy. This is for the first time that a hospital in India has come up with such a noble initiative.”

Paras Health COO Dr Shankar Narang elucidated, “At Paras, we offer the most difficult and modern treatments, including bone marrow transplant. Our doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are known for their friendly approach towards patients and their families. Hence, in order to protect patients’ rights, we urge them to vote. If Indians can travel from foreign lands to exercise their right to vote, then why can’t patients do the same?” Dr Ajay Singh, Facility Director, Paras HMRI Hospital was also present during the meet.