The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the Government to extend the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) benefits, recently announced by the Finance Ministry, to clinics, nursing homes and small hospitals run by single doctors, couple doctors and group of doctors who are grappling with financial crisis owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There are thousands of single doctors, couple doctors and group of doctors who have established clinics, nursing homes and small hospitals providing healthcare in almost all the districts and towns of the country. They provide affordable healthcare and are accessible 24X7.
“Most of them fail to come under the definition of MSME. It is also true they have been badly affected in the current lockdown situation. Many of them have been closed. Some of them may not revive at all. All of them are important in the current stage of exit to provide non-Covid services and perhaps even Covid-19 related services,” IMA national president Dr Rajan Sharma said.
This stimulus package, which requires clarity will allow these institutions to survive and continue serving the people, Dr Sharma added. The IMA represents private medical professionals in the country.
The Government has announced a major economic package for the MSMEs which have been given a special consideration to help them bail out from financial crisis in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic.