Assam Public Health Bill, 2010, was passed in the Assembly on Wednesday issuing right to health to every citizen. With this, Assam has become the first state in the country to pass legislation asserting right to health as an inclusive right of every citizen of the state.

This bill make it mandatory for all Government and private hospitals and nursing homes to provide free healthcare services for first 24 hours to any patient seeking emergency, side by side maintaining proper procedure for treatments.

Proceeding further with this act, it becomes necessary on the part of government to locate that whether healthcare providers are implementing this right or are contradicting this right. Government is responsible for providing health care services to the citizens of the state and with this regard; the act guarantees the people right to health.

Another advantage of this right would be that it will help and empowers the State Health Department to delegate responsibilities and accountabilities of department and agencies involved in repeated outbreak of communicable, viral and waterborne diseases.