The CE Act was passed by Parliament in 2010 and notified on February 28, 2012. It came into force in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim and all Union Territories from March 1. The act calls for mandatory registration of all clinical establishments in the public and private sectors. If medical establishments are found not complying with the rules and standards set by the act, they can be fined. Besides the minimum healthcare standards, the act also calls for an open display of treatment costs, room charges, consultation fees, etc.
While JAA activists agree that such an act is extremely important, they feel that it should be modified for Maharashtra and made more patientfriendly. For example, the activists point out that there is no mention of additional staff to oversee implementation of the CE Act., nor any mention of the patient’s human rights and a grievance redressal mechanism.
Further, the act makes it mandatory for clinics to attend to emergency cases or face a fine up to Rs 5 lakh. But the activists argue that every doctor can only treat emergency patients as per his individual capacity. There are chances of an emergency patient needing surgery or a ventilator landing up at a general physician’s clinic. In such a situation, the doctor will not be in a position to offer the patient the best treatment, and the patient could lose out on precious time in getting crucial medical aid.
Health Minister Suresh Shetty has now called for another round of discussions with all those concerned, before the CE Act is implemented in the State.
IF YOU CANNOT SEND A TELEGRAM YOU CAN SMS ALSO
SMS TO – Health Minister Suresh shetty at 9820003004
Mr Minister Please enact Maharashtra Clinical Establishment Act with patient rights , grievance rederessal and particpatory district councils – Jan Arrogya Abhiyan
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