IMA Nagpur Raises Concerns Over Strict Regulations Imposed on Small Hospitals
Private hospitals
Nagpur: A delegation of doctors running small and mid-sized private hospitals recently met with Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and expressed concerns regarding the imposition of the same regulatory standards to their facilities as those applied to large corporate hospitals.
During the meeting with the minister on Sunday, they highlighted the challenges they were facing as owners of small or mid-size hospitals due to the strict regulations of the government. They urged the government to simplify the hospital renewal process by reducing excessive documentation and eliminating the need for multiple clearance certificates.
The delegation led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Nagpur met Abitkar at the office of the Divisional Deputy Director of Health Services (DDHS). The doctors argued that smaller hospitals, with 10 to 50 beds, should not be subjected to the same regulatory framework as large corporate hospitals.
Responding to their demands, Abitkar assured the doctors that a separate meeting would be held within the next two weeks to discuss and address their concerns specifically.
Speaking to TOI in this regard, IMA Nagpur president Dr Manjusha Giri said, "Doctors running small hospitals should not be pressured to comply with the same stringent laws and regulations as large corporate hospitals. Small hospitals are the backbone of healthcare for the common people."
During the meeting, the doctors also raised concerns about the quality of newly established government medical colleges (GMCs) in the region. While supporting the expansion of medical education, they stressed that it must be accompanied by adequate infrastructure and appointing qualified teaching staff.
"The students in these colleges will become future doctors and IMA members. It is crucial to ensure quality education and training for them," said an IMA representative. They also emphasized the need to safeguard the welfare of student and resident doctors.
