Health Minister announces nine-member expert panel to examine private hospitals functioning

Health Minister announces nine-member expert panel to examine private hospitals functioning

• Decision follows minister’s series of meetings with IMA, DMA, DMC and other expert bodies
• Several complaints brought to the notice of the minister regarding overcharging etc., by private hospitals/nursing homes

Delhi Health Minister, Shri Satyendar Jain today announced a nine-member expert committee to recommend concrete measures for the improvement of private hospitals/nursing homes in Delhi.

The decision was taken following a series of meetings convened by the Health Minister with various professional and regulatory organisations representing doctors working in various medical institutions across the national capital.

Several complaints had been brought to the notice of the Health Minister regarding allegations of excessive charges, refusal/delay in providing immediate medical care to victims of crime or road accidents, compelling patients to buy drugs from in-house pharmacy, rude behaviour of healthcare workers and delay in initiating medico-legal cases.

To address the above mentioned issues and for preparation of a comprehensive protocol for private hospitals/nursing homes, the Health Minister has constituted a nine-member committee comprising the following :

1)      Dr Kirti Bhushan Director General of Health Services (DGHS)

2)      Dr KK Aggarwal, President IMA

3)      Dr RK Gupta DMA (former President)

4)      Dr Arun Gupta President DMC

5)      Dr Puneeta Mahajan Regional Director Health Services (North)

6)      Dr Ashok Kumar Additional Director (DGEHS)

7)      Dr Monalisa Borah MS-NH

8)      Dr Chander Prakash President Delhi Voluntary Hospital Forum

9)      Dr RN Das, DAK & EWS

This committee has been requested to submit its recommendations by 31^st December

It is requested to prepare a mechanism on the following :

That all private hospitals/nursing homes should as far as possible only prescribe drugs mentioned in National List of Essential Medicines (NELM).

Price to be charged by private hospitals/nursing homes for medicines and consumables and not compelling patients to buy drugs from in-house pharmacy.

Price to be charged by private hospitals/nursing homes for various diagnostic investigations.

To develop a mechanism for eradicating cuts and commissions in medical practice.