State to implement Clinical Establishments Act: Mohindra

PATIALA: Health minister Brahm Mohindra said the state government is all set to adopt the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act and asked doctors to give their suggestions before it could presented in the Vidhan Sabha.

The draft bill, among other things, mandates that clinical establishments charge rates for procedures and services that are within the range that the government prescribes.

Some of private hospitals are against the bill. They want that the Punjab government should not adopt the Act or implement it like Haryana, which has relaxed the provisions and has also not covered hospitals having less than 50 beds under the Act.

Speaking during the 71st annual conference of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Punjab, ‘Pimacon 2018’ at Government Medical College, Patiala, on Sunday, Mohindra said: “Health is the primary focus of our government and we wish to provide quality services at affordable

rates to all. And for this, Clinical Establishment Act is the need of the hour. The bill, which is pending since 2012, will end exploitation of patients by some doctors. It will be a doctor-friendly bill and you as an individual or at the Ima-level are welcome to give suggestion on draft bill.”

He said the bill will be tabled in the forthcoming annual meeting of the Punjab chapter of IMA. “I want to end exploitation of patients by some doctors”, he said.

He said even ayurvedic and homeopathic clinics and hospitals will be covered under the Act.

Replying to doctors’ queries, the minister said: “The government