Stringent rules for private health institutions

Expressbuzz, Nov 30, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is contemplating to amend the Orissa Clinical Establishment (Control and Regulation) Act, 1990, in view of the increasing number of private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes in a bid to strengthen the existing medical system.


Sources said that review of the Act and rules has already started and these will be amended, if necessary. The number of such clinical establishments in 2008-09 was 1,020 and it has increased to 1,089 by April, 2009. Presently, all these establishments are guided by the provisions of the Act.

The criteria for granting licences to the private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are likely to become more stringent. The prevailing Act does not specify any fee structure to be charged from patients by the private clinical establishments.

But there is instruction in the registration and renewal certificate of the registration that the fees to be charged for various medical treatments, laboratory tests, X-ray and use of other equipment should be displayed on the premises for information of public and satisfaction of the supervising authority.

However, sources maintained that there is no proposal to enact any law prescribing fee structure to be charged from the patients by the private clinical establishments.

There are 161 private hospitals, 357 nursing homes, 249 diagnostic centres and 322 pathology centres in the State. Of these, the highest number of 27 private hospitals are in Cuttack followed by 24 in Bhubaneswar. Subarnapur, Nayagarh, Malkangiri and Boudh do not have any private hospitals.

The highest number of 73 nursing homes are in Cuttack followed by 46 in Bhubaneswar. Berhampur town has 32 nursing homes. Nuapada and Malkangiri have no nursing homes while Kalahandi has five.

Cuttack has 51 diagnostic centres, followed by 24 in Bhubaneswar.

Surprisingly, Kalahandi district has 22 diagnostic centres, according to the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Nabarangpur, Kandhamal and Boudh districts have no diagnostic centres.