Accountability ordinance on cards

“The government will come out with an ordinance for the working of the hospitals as there should be some minimum standard for private sector hospitals and nursing homes,” Thakur said during an interaction with newsmen.

The government would bring a model bill for this purpose later, the minister said adding that he had convened a meeting of State Health Ministers next month to discuss the issue aimed at giving top priority to the accountability of mushrooming hospitals in the country.

Thakur’s remarks assume significance in the wake of the demand from a group of 59 MPs led by senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana demanding the government institute a high-level probe into the functioning of the Apollo Hospital.

The Minister regretted that the report of the experts committee that went into the treatment of Kumaramangalam at Apollo Hospital was not clear and it could have given a clearer picture pinpointing the drawbacks. The committee had presented its report on October 4 to the Health Minister.

Thakur said government was also very keen on making mandatory a `refresher’ course for doctors in order that they were up to date on advancements in medical fields.

Stating that the most of the medical colleges in the country suffered from inadequate resources, the Minister said he had mooted an idea of creating a `Medical Grants Council’ on the pattern of University Grants Commission to provide financial assistance to medical colleges and hospitals.

He said the government had also decided to link medical colleges with the National Medical Library here through online to enable medical students and professionals to enrich their knowledge.