Authorities have formed three teams to launch a crackdown on private hospitals and nursing homes in the district of Dhamtari after allegation that many of them were not following the rules and regulations, officials said on Friday.
The crackdown will continue for about six months and during the period the teams will visit different nursing homes and private hospitals, examine the facilities available with them and check if they have been done as per the prescribed law.
Under the Chhattisgarh nursing home act every private hospitals and nursing home are required to register with the authorities. The last date for registration was fixed at November 20.
The health department has received as many as 120 applications from the district where as sources said the number of nursing homes and private hospitals operating in the district would more than 150. Those who will not register may invite a penalty up to Rs20,000.
The Government will issue registration certificate only after the inspections by the teams. Sources said the registration process will start in June next year. People often complain that few private hospitals and nursing homes in towns offer treatment at night where as there are hospitals where patients are denied treatment because of the absence of doctors.
Under the new rules such hospitals are bound to provide treatment round o clock and they can refer a patient to other hospitals only after providing preliminary treatments.
The acts also made it mandatory for the hospital operators to engage staffs who are trained. Sources said due to lack of training institutes hospital and nursing homes in Dhamtari done not have adequate skilled staffs.
There are also allegations that in rural area, large numbers of treatment providers do not carry any medical degree. There are also places where witch doctors are luring gullible people and extracting money.
Anybody who would be found running a treatment centre without having a degree can not only be penalised but also authorities can initiate criminal action against him.
Chief district medical officer Dr KS Sandilya said the government will carefully examine the facilities available at the hospitals or nursing homes before granting them registration. He said they will also be provided adequate time to meet the shortfall.