Clinical Establishment Act: Will it lead to transparency or will it overregulate?

Does Punjab really need regulations in the private health sector? Ravinder Vasudeva talks to a cross-section of stakeholders and experts.

› The private health sector is already going through a bad phase. The government should not doubt our intent by bringing in new regulations. There are already more than 32 regulations on us.

DR VINAY MAHAJAN, Tagore Hospital, Jalandhar

› The regulations should have been introduced much before. Efforts to enact the law were made earlier also but it did not happen under pressure from groups. I fail to understand why some people are crying hoarse.

DR GS GREWAL, former president, Punjab Medical Council

› Why does the govt want to regulate private doctors only and not other professionals? It should enact the Clinical Establishment Act, but check if private hospitals are offering hygiene, good medicines and facilities.

DR HS NAGPAL, owner, Hartej Hospital, Amritsar

› Regulations will have many advantages. The fee being charged in a health care establishment should be commensurate with the facilities being provided there. This system must be transparent.

DR KK TALWAR, former director, PGIMER, Chandigarh

› Regulation is indeed needed to ensure that patients are not exploited. I hope more transparency is brought and violence against doctors is reduced. Rules should be stricter for hospitals with over 60 beds.

DR RAJ BAHADUR, vice-chancellor, BFUHS, Faridkot

› This Act should be opposed tooth and nail as its enforcement through government officials will only promote inspector raj. Hospitals will need more money to meet rules, leading to increased cost.

DR VITULL K GUPTA, physician, Bathinda