Telangana reconstitutes State Council for Clinical Establishments, doctors seek practical rules

Hyderabad: To improve regulation, accountability, and quality standards across hospitals and clinics, the Telangana government has reconstituted the State Council for Clinical Establishments under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010. While doctors have welcomed the move and praised the government for this step, but have urged more practical rules for small and medium-sized hospitals.

The council will be responsible for maintaining and updating the State Register of Clinical Establishments, submitting monthly reports to the National Register, and representing Telangana at the National Council.

It will also monitor compliance with the Act, hear appeals, publish annual reports on the implementation of standards, recommend necessary modifications to the government in line with technological or social changes, and perform other functions outlined by the National Council for Clinical Establishments.

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A government order (GO) issued by Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu on October 27, 2025, mentioned the members who will be part of the council. According to the order, the health secretary will head the council including representatives from diverse sectors of healthcare including officials from the Directorates of Medical Education, Public Health and AYUSH, representatives of Telangana Medical Council, Dental Council, and Pharmacy Council, a representative from Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana branch, as well as consumer rights representatives from civil society organisations.

The order also added that each nominated and elected member will serve for a term of three years.

Welcoming the move, the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) told The Hindu, "The decision marks a vital step in ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector. However, we call for more practical regulations that take into account the operational realities of small and medium hospitals."

Dr Bandari Rajkumar, Secretary of Telangana Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (THANA), Karimnagar branch, said, "It was unfair to impose the same stringent norms applicable to 200-bed corporate hospitals on 10-bed rural hospitals. The CEA monitoring system should be encouraging, not punitive. Doctors are committed to ethical medical practices, but the regulations should also be practical."

The HRDA has suggested several amendments, including exempting hospitals and clinics with fewer than 50 beds from the purview of the Act, simplification of the district-level online registration and renewal process, introduction of a single-window clearance system integrating fire safety, biomedical waste and municipal permits and inclusion of private doctors and local medical associations in the Council’s decision-making process.

The association argued that excessive regulations could threaten the survival of small facilities and disrupt emergency healthcare in rural and semi-urban areas.

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