Maharashtra Government Introduces Bill To Regulate All State Healthcare Facilities
On Friday, the Maharashtra government introduced the Maharashtra Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill at the State Legislature in Mumbai. Tabled by Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, the proposed legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework to regulate all healthcare facilities across the state to improve transparency, accountability, and the quality of healthcare services.
The new bill will replace the nearly eight-decade-old Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949. According to the government, the 1949 Act has become outdated and inadequate as it only governs nursing homes and maternity homes, failing to cover the diverse range of modern healthcare institutions that have emerged over the years.
Once enacted, the legislation will make registration mandatory for all hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, day-care centers, and other healthcare establishments operating under recognized systems of medicine. These institutions will be required to comply with prescribed minimum standards.
The bill proposes the creation of a State Council for Clinical Establishments. This council will be responsible for prescribing minimum standards for infrastructure, facilities, and services across different categories of healthcare institutions.
Regional registering authorities will also be established under the proposed law. These regional bodies will have the power to grant provisional and permanent registrations, renew licenses, monitor compliance, and cancel registrations in cases where violations occur.
To ensure transparency for patients, all registered establishments will be required to prominently display their registration certificates along with their rates and charges for various services.
The bill also incorporates a Charter of Patients' Rights. Under this charter, patients will have the right to receive complete information regarding their illness, diagnosis, proposed treatment, available options, and the estimated cost of their treatment.
Additionally, the legislation empowers authorities to inspect registered facilities, maintain a comprehensive state register of healthcare institutions, and take action against violators. The bill includes penalties for non-compliance, establishes a dedicated fund for the State Council, and authorizes the state government to issue directions for effective implementation.
