The Medico Legal Society of India (MLSI) issued an advisory aimed at healthcare facilities and the public concerning emergency medical care, hospital responsibilities, and patient expectations. This announcement follows recent directives from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the state government, which instructed private hospitals not to demand advance deposits from patients during medical emergencies or to deny urgent treatment due to financial constraints.

The MLSI highlighted that due to varying levels of infrastructure, critically ill patients often need to be transferred from private hospitals to government facilities, which can lead to delays in treatment during the crucial "golden hour." The organization emphasized that expecting advanced care from hospitals lacking adequate resources is unrealistic and can jeopardize patient outcomes.

To improve survival rates, the association of medical and legal professionals recommended the enhanced utilization of cardiac ambulances and timely transfers to well-equipped government hospitals.

According to MLSI, current laws require all hospitals—both private and public—to stabilize a patient in an emergency before transferring them to a more suitable facility. However, no state government has enacted legislation to ensure reimbursement for emergency treatment costs, as suggested by the Law Commission in 2006. Consequently, hospitals providing free emergency care may face financial challenges without legal safeguards or reimbursement options, which could deter them from offering necessary services.