Delhi Government Gives Nod to Bill Meant to Regulate Path Labs

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has given approval to the health department to finalize the Delhi Health Bill and present it in the Cabinet by next month. The Bill, once implemented, will help regulate pathological labs and clinical establishments in the capital. The Bill, drafted by a committee, was sent to the Health Secretary for approval. After being finalized, it was sent to the minister for confirmation. “The Minister has given a go-ahead to the Bill, which will be presented in the Cabinet next month. It will replace the need to implement the Clinical Establishment Act 2010 as suggested by the Union Health Ministry,” said Sanjeev Khirwar, Health Secretary, Delhi government. The committee, in its draft, also defined emergency care services for all hospitals and nursing homes. With the enforcement of the Act, it will be mandatory for nursing homes and hospitals to stabilize the condition of patients who need critical care before referring them to another hospital. Single doctor clinics have been left out of the proposed Act.

Last month, the Delhi High Court had pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government for not taking any steps to regulate pathological labs and clinics in the capital. While the Supreme Court had said that only postgraduate degree holders in pathology could sign medical test reports, there are no checks on labs functioning in Delhi. “We are conducting surveys to find out the number of such labs operating in the capital. The Chief District Medical Officer in every district is conducting it. Once the survey is done, we will advise labs to get themselves accredited from NABL, at least at the entry level,” said Khirwar. According to sources, the Bill will also lay down guidelines for compulsory registration of IVF centers, dental clinics and certain facilities in eyecare centers. As per the draft report, while there is a separate body for registration of a dentist in the capital, there are no regulations for setting up a dental clinic. – Indian Express