Assam became the first state in the country to enact a legislation that seeks to ensure right to health for every citizen. The Assam Public Health Bill 2010 which was unanimously passed in the Assembly yesterday makes it mandatory for all hospitals, both government and private, including nursing homes to provide free health care services, maintaining appropriate protocol of treatment, for the first 24 hours to an emergency patient.<br/><br/> The government will also set up 50 model hospitals in the state, which will also have parks, schools and residential quarters for doctors and staff. AIR Silchar correspondent reports that since the start of the Tarun Gogoi government’s second term in 2006, it has launched various schemes with an aim to make healthcare facilities affordable for all sections of the people. Schemes like providing free cancer drugs and chemotherapy and free coronary artery bypass grafting launched by the government have won accolades from various quarters.