Nursing Home Cell Act to be modified

The Clinical Establishment Bill supposed to tighten the noose over private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in the Capital might not be brought in by the Delhi government.

The bill was suggested after the Capital reported cases of medical negligence in private hospitals and diagnostic centres. The Health Department had chalked out a plan and sent it to the higher authorities for discussion.

"Delhi already has a Nursing Home Cell Act but it has its own limitations. We had a meeting with all the stakeholders regarding bringing in the Clinical Establishment Bill. It was mutually discussed that it will be difficult to get the act in the Capital. We are now planning to modify the existing Nursing Home Cell Act," said a Health Department official.

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 to prescribe the minimum standards of facilities and services provided by them. The act has taken effect in the four states of Arunachal, Himachal, Mizoram and Sikkim, and all Union Territories except the NCT of Delhi since March 1, 2012.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda had directed all the chief ministers to adopt and implement the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, so that malpractice in private hospitals can be curbed.