Won’t Let Stricter Hospital Rules Be Applied In Maharashtra: IMA

Nagpur: Reasserting that stringent provisions and regulations in the new Clinical Establishment Act can shut down nearly 70% of small and medium clinics in state, the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) state president Dr Avinash Bhondve said the doctors in Maharashtra won’t let the act to be implemented in its present draft form in the state.
“The entire draft has a series of rules which makes it impossible for single-doctor clinics and small nursing homes to follow. These establishments will lose their licence if this draft becomes an Act,” said Dr Bhondve.

Health is a state subject in the Constitution. As a result, the state is free to have its own Aact for medical establishments. Doctors are hopeful that the Maharashtra government would form its own law.

“The government under Devendra Fadnavis had agreed to amend the existing Bombay Nursing Home Establishment Act instead of implementing the new law. A drafting committee was also formed to suggest these amendments. We hope the present government also will follow the same path,” he said.

Dr Prakash Deo, who was one of the members of this drafting committee said they have drafted balanced regulations considering the needs of the state. “The draft of this Act presented by the central government is full of draconian laws. But at the state level, we considered views of all stakeholders and came up with a balanced document. As the draft is ready, it is for sure that central regulations will not be applied in Maharashtra,” he said.

State hospital board chairman Dr Mangesh Pate said the central draft has been made considering only corporate hospitals. “Doctors are not against regulations. But excessive and unnecessary regulations will hurt the entire health service scenario in Maharashtra. The central law has many provisions which may promote red tape and corruption,” he said.

For example, under the head of biomedical waste management, there is a one-line mention that doctors must follow Waste Management Rules, 2016. As per these rules, hospitals/clinics should have their own effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and sewage treatment plants (STPs). “Do you think a small ten-bedded hospital in a crowded localities can have its own STP?” Dr Pate asked.

IMA is also gearing up to start a nationwide agitation as the central government is yet to table the Doctors’ Protection Act, a central law to protect doctors from attacks.-Times Of India