The Act mandates that all registered private hospitals and nursing homes must meet essential requisitions of infrastructure, staffing standards, hygiene, fire safety and biomedical waste disposal. They must display rates for various treatments, ensure transparency in billing and have a toll-free grievance redressal mechanism for patients to report issues.
The violations came to light during two extensive inspections conducted earlier this year by the state health department. Following the revelation that a large number of hospitals were flouting regulations, State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar announced during the question hour in the state legislative assembly on Thursday that their licenses would be revoked. He noted that several legislators had raised concerns about hospitals failing to comply with the provisions of the Act, putting patients at risk of being overcharged.
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According to Abitkar, out of 23,354 private hospitals inspected across the state, a staggering 5,134 were found in breach of various provisions of the Act, which mandates infrastructure standards, proper staffing, hygiene, fire safety, biomedical waste disposal, transparent billing and a grievance redressal mechanism.
All 5,134 hospitals received notices instructing them to comply with the law. However, during a follow-up re-inspection, 258 of these were still found to be in violation. As a result, the state moved to cancel their registration, Abitkar said, signalling a stern message against malpractice and negligence in the private healthcare sector.
The health minister clarified that this was the first time such a comprehensive drive had been undertaken, and that the government intends to make it an annual exercise.
“This was the first such drive conducted across Maharashtra. Going forward, it will be implemented every year to ensure hospitals function within legal and ethical boundaries,” he said as reported by Akashvani News.
Abitkar also acknowledged concerns raised by several private doctors and smaller healthcare operators who claimed that the Act’s uniformity fails to distinguish between large hospitals and smaller establishments like daycare centres and nursing homes.
As per the HT media report, Abitkar said, "The Act would be amended to account for daycare centres and nursing homes, which need not adhere to such stringent norms. Currently, the law doesn’t bifurcate between hospitals and daycare centres or nursing homes, making it difficult for small hospitals to complete compliance and sustain themselves. Following demands from private doctors and hospitals, a fresh bill will be placed in the next session of the legislature, and appropriate changes will be made in the Act."
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