Single-use medical device reuse: Experts flag gaps in monitoring private hospitals in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Prohibiting the reuse of single-use medical devices has raised concerns over monitoring private hospitals and enforcing patient safety standards across Karnataka. Public health experts have flagged staff shortages, inadequate inspections and weak regulatory mechanisms as key challenges in ensuring compliance across the sector.  

Experts said that issuing directives to hospitals would not be sufficient unless the state government strengthened its enforcement machinery. They stressed the need for dedicated regulatory officers, regular inspections and medical audits to identify violations and hold healthcare facilities accountable.

A public health activist associated with Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali said the state lacked a sufficiently strong monitoring system to ensure that private hospitals followed prescribed safety standards. Although Karnataka has a legal framework to regulate private medical establishments, its effective implementation requires adequate manpower and officers specifically assigned to regulatory duties.

The activist said monitoring smaller hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories was particularly challenging, as their day-to-day practices could remain outside regular scrutiny. Reusing disposable medical consumables and ignoring standard precautions could expose patients to serious health risks, the activist warned. 

A public health researcher associated with Sarvatrika Arogya Andolana Karnataka said regulatory functions often took a back seat because health department officials were occupied with clinical and administrative responsibilities. Staff shortages further restricted the department's capacity to inspect private healthcare facilities and conduct medical audits.

The researcher called for an autonomous regulatory institution with dedicated funding and personnel to supervise private healthcare providers. Such a mechanism could ensure regular assessments, identify non-compliance and improve accountability in the sector, TNIE reported. 

A public health doctor, Sylvia Karpagam, also highlighted gaps in monitoring smaller nursing homes and clinics. However, she clarified that there was no specific evidence available to establish whether single-use medical devices were being reused in Karnataka.  

Experts maintained that effective implementation of the Centre's directive would depend on strengthening the state's regulatory capacity and ensuring that patient safety requirements were routinely monitored rather than enforced only through official circulars.