Bihar govt’s nod to bills on erring nursing homes

Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi,Health Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey,besides several other ministers attended the meeting.

The bill would be placed in the ongoing monsoon session of the state Assembly next week,sources said.

The state government has virtually adopted the Centre’s clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act,2010,to rein in erring nursing homes and clinics in the state.

Sources said that the department decided to move the proposals only after it received a go-ahead from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday. The health minister along with principal secretary (health) Amarjit sinha met the CM to seek his clearance.

The clinical establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill,2011,provides for mandatory registration of nursing,homes and clinics,failing which their owners would be liable for punishment with fine,which may go up to Rs five lakh.

The bill would also seek to provides that the nursing homes will have to admit even emergency patients and treat them till their conditions have been stabilised,sources said.

The clinical establishments shall undertake to provide with in the staff and facilities available,such medical examinations and treatment as may be required to stabilise the emergency medical condition of any individual.

Sources said with the adoption of the Centre’s legislation,the existing Bihar clinical Establishments (control and Regulation) Act,2007,will be annulled.

The draft of the Bihar Medical Service Institution Protection Bill,2011,also approved for tabling in the state Assembly,has the provisions for dealing with any act of violence against medical service persons or damage to property in medical service institutions treating it an offense and publishable by law.

Moreover,it has also provisions for protecting the medical professions,sources said adding the bill is being brought on the pattern of the Act already in to force in Andhra Pradesh and few other states.