States urged to adopt measure regulating private clinics

Wednesday March 16, 2011 09:01:17 AM, IANS

New Delhi: Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday urged state governments to speed up adoption of the Clinical Establishment Bill regulating private clinics.

Azad told the Rajya Sabha that the legislation, passed by both houses of parliament, lays down standards and the range for price that private and government hospitals can charge for a particular procedure.

"I had written to the state health ministers in December; the issue was also taken up in the recent meeting of state ministers. I have asked them to pass resolutions to adopt the act in the coming assembly session," Azad said.

"After the act is enforced, the public will get relief from over-charging and sometimes unnecessary medication or hospitalisation by some hospitals," the minister said.

Azad also informed the house that under the act, a three-member committee could be set up at the district level to look into the functioning of private clinics.

Only four states - Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim - have so far passed the resolution to adopt the act.

The health minister also said that the six-member body, which replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) last year, is independent to take all decisions on medical education.

"The board of governors has total freedom whatsoever. We do not interfere except for policy directions," Azad said.

The Medical Council of India was replaced by a six member body headed by eminent gastroenterologist S.K. Sarin in May last year.

The move came after MCI president Ketan Desai was arrested on graft charges and the body was suspended.

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

A shocked Malegaon decides to intensify protest, appeals NGOs to join hands

A shocked and devastated Malegaon after the Special MCOCA Court rejected the bail application of the 2006 Malegaon blast accused March  »

MCOCA court rejects bail plea of Malegaon blast accused

Relatives, activists shaken by rejection of bail plea; to move for an appeal

  Most Read

Fourth n-reactor on fire in Japan, PM tells people to leave area

A fire broke out at a fourth reactor in Japan's Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant Tuesday, hours after a blast ripped its third reactor. As the  »

Japan toll may cross tens of thousands, fears of nuclear disaster remain

Fresh blast in Japan n-plant; 2,000 more bodies found

Its raining promises at Maha Urdu Academy award giving function

The government of Maharashtra in an award giving function of a state body March 14 unleashed a new list of promises for promotion of the Urdu language and   »

Maha Urdu Academy to give away annual awards today… after a gap of six years

  News Pick

When Jamia Nagar women came out of burqas to showcase talent

Sara Pilot says she was amazed at the response to the just-concluded Jamia Bazaar after her effort to provide a platform to the underprivileged  »

Haj Committee invites applications for Haj 2011, removes ban on children

The Haj Committee of India March 14 declared to begin receiving applications for the Haj 2011 from March 16. It also decided to remove the ban it had imposed in 2009 on carrying children for Haj.   »

Another woman found in a bag in Mumbai

Five days after the body of a woman was found stuffed in a suitcase at Mumbai's Juhu Beach, the body of another unidentified woman in a bag has been discovered, police said Tuesday. The body of the woman, believed to be in   »

25,000 tribals march into Mumbai

Around 25,000 tribals, many barefoot, have reached Mumbai from all over Maharashtra demanding that they not be evicted from forests where their families have lived for thousands of years. Tribal leaders said they have met   »

Aurangzeb's sword, pen stand gifted by Afghan King re-discovered at AMU

The ongoing process of reorganization of manuscripts at Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has revealed some hidden treasure in the form of   »

Picture of the Day

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid inaugurating the Moot Court Building at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) March 12. Salman Khurshid visited the university to deliver Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture 2010-2011. During his lecture, Khurshid pitched for AMU's minority character.