Small hospitals get relief under Kerala Clinical Establishments Act

Thiruvananthapuram: Small hospitals in Kerala will receive concessions in the implementation of the Kerala Clinical Establishments Act, as the State government moves to simplify the registration and assessment process for these facilities.

The move follows discussions between the government, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and representatives of small and medium hospitals after the Kerala High Court directed the State to implement the Act without further delay.

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To address the concerns, the government agreed to simplify the hospital assessment process for smaller institutions. Speaking to the Hindu, a senior health official said, “The Council has an elaborate checklist for assessing hospitals in the 150 beds category, which runs into pages. Following discussions with the representatives of IMA and Kerala Association of Small Hospitals and Clinics last month, we agreed to trim this list down to just basic and essential points for clinics and small hospitals with up to 15 beds.”

The Council has now prepared a revised checklist aimed at simplifying the assessment process for small hospitals. The decision was taken to protect these institutions while ensuring that they remain within the regulatory framework.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that, seeking relief for small hospitals and clinics, the Kerala unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced plans to hold protest demonstrations outside District Medical Offices across the State on February 13.

The simplified checklist focuses mainly on essential requirements such as basic hospital infrastructure, patient safety standards, hygiene and sanitation, availability of necessary medical equipment, and infection control protocols.

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