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| HC issues notice to state in functioning of private nursing homes case | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 8: Petition filed by Citizens Forum Jammu regarding the statement of Health Minister for closing private hospitals- nursing homes operating illegally, Justice Sunil Hali after hearing Adv Anil Sethi appearing for the petitioners, issued notice to state of J&K through Chief Secretary, Commissioner-Secretary Health & Medical Education, Director Health Services Jammu, Medical Council of India New Delhi and Secretary to Govt of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare New Delhi returnable within four weeks.
Petition filed by R K Chadha, President of Citizens Forum Jammu, regarding the medical facilities and infrastructure at capital cities and urban areas, keeping with the rising population and seeking direction to the state Govt to explain follow-up action taken, if any, pursuant to the statement of minister for health during addressing public meeting on March 23, 2010 and also seeking directions to respondents to regulate and monitor the functioning of nursing homes, private medical institutes/ health centers in accordance with the guidelines of Ministry of Health Government of India and Medical Council of India.
It has been submitted that members Citizens Forum have come-a-cross a statement issued by the Health Minister which was published in the newspapers on March 25, 2010 in which it has been announced by the Minister that "All Nursing Homes & Private Hospitals operating illegally will face closure from April 1, 2010". In the petition it has been further submitted that the population of Jammu city is approximately 15 lacs and there are only two Govt Hospitals which are GMC Jammu & Govt Hospital Jammu. No doubt the Govt of India come up with National Rural Health Mission Scheme but its actual implementation still remains a dream as the scheme is facing many bottlenecks and is not actually allowed to deliver the goods. The petitioner has reason to believe that no guidelines are framed by the respondents for permitting nursing homes/private hospitals to function and the petitioner further believes that there is no regular inspection regulating the functioning of these private health institutes. While the standard of Medical Service provided by the Govt Hospitals leaves much to be desired, these private medical institutes do have the capacity and the finance to provide adequate and sufficient Medicare to those who are needy and those who can afford the services of a private hospital. But the irony of the fact is that there is no regulatory body which can monitor the functioning of these institutes. The petitioner submitted that a committee needs to be formed for keeping an eye on the functioning of private health institutes which could regularly supervise their work and functioning. The members of the committee should be of high intellect and not accessible to those running these private institutes.
In the petition it has been submitted that there is no regulation of fee/charges which are to be paid by a customer. These all private hospital/nursing homes charge astronomical fees and a patient who has been ignored or ill-treated in the Govt hospital is compelled to bear the brunt of excessive charges asked the private medical institutes. These private medical institutes sell medicines in connivance with pharmaceuticals companies referred patient for unnecessary tests including costly tests like MRI, City Scan Etc. Some of these hospitals have installed their own city scan and MRI and secure the patients so much that they may feel compelled to undergo these costly tests and seeking various directions to the state Govt for regarding regulating private medical institutes. ---JNF
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