JP Nadda questions govt for not implementing Clinical Establishment Act
The Delhi government for not implementing the Clinical Establishment Act that tightens the noose over the functioning of private hospitals, clinics and path labs
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday questioned the Delhi government for not implementing the Clinical Establishment Act that tightens the noose over the functioning of private hospitals, clinics and path labs.
"Why Delhi government has so far not implemented the act? I have also written a letter to all the state CMs to enforce the act in their respective states. The states should adopt the act at the earliest. The model act is extremely important in dealing with the clinical establishment in the city," said Nadda.
The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, has been enacted by the Centre to provide for registration and regulation of all clinical establishments in the country with a view to prescribe minimum standards of facilities and services provided by them.
"We have also asked them to alter the act, if needed but should not leave the area unattended," the minister added.
The Delhi government is already considering to implement the act. A letter has been sent to Delhi Health Secretary with the suggestions regarding the act. However, the decision is yet to come out."The plan has been sent to the health secretary. We will have a meeting with all the stakeholders to finalise it," said Dr Kirti Bhushan, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Delhi government.
At present, the state government regulates the nursing homes and private hospitals under the Nursing Home Cell. The cell was established in the department to register private nursing homes and hospitals as per the Delhi Nursing Home. Inspections are carried out to see that the nursing homes maintain the standards and norms as per the rules in the said Act. Efforts are made to prevent the functioning of the nursing homes providing inferior quality service and suggesting appropriate action against the unregistered nursing homes.
The act is already implemented in four states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, and all Union Territories except the NCT of Delhi since March 1, 2012.
The act is applicable to all types (both therapeutic and diagnostic types) of clinical establishments from the public and private sectors, belonging to all recognised systems of medicine, including single-doctor clinics. The only exception is clinical establishments run by the Armed Forces.