The residents of Madhya Pradesh are likely to get access to free health services soon as the government is planning to introduce a right to health legislation in the winter session of the assembly.

The government has set up a committee to draft the legislation, the Health Minister said on November 21. Madhya Pradesh will be first state in the country to introduce a right to health (legislation) for its citizens. We are making efforts to introduce the legislation in the coming session of the assembly, he said.

He said after approval of the proposed legislation, the citizens of the state will have the legal right to free health facilities, including free transportation (for patients). The minister said, A committee has been set up to prepare the draft of this legislation after going into all legal and administrative issues. The minister also said, "we had inherited poor health services from the previous regime. But, we are now improving health conditions for the citizens."