Bill to reign in private hospitals gets governor nod

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that governor Keshari Nath Tripathi had given his final nod to the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (registration regulations transparency) Bill, 2017 that was passed in the state Assembly on March 3. The nod of the governor has paved the way for the West Bengal Health Regulatory Commission, which will monitor the billing and performance of the private hospitals and nursing homes.

“The Commission will be declared on Friday. It will comprise of 11 members,” Ms Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna. In a meeting with representatives of top private hospitals and nursing homes the chief minister had announced the formation of such a commission that is likely to be headed by a former justice of the high court.

The bill is aimed at imposing a crackdown on private hospitals. There are provisions in the bill which says that private healthcare institutes cannot refuse admission and treatment in emergency cases such as acid attack, rape and accident victims. The hospital will have to admit these patients and begin treatment even if the patient could not afford the treatment immediately. It also empowers the government to impose penalty in case of violations.