Question : Committee on Nurses Working in Private Hospitals

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to enact a central legislation prescribing the minimum standards for the quality of medical services rendered by private clinics, nursing homes and other medical institutions and also for providing minimum infrastructural facilities and standards for the employees, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to form Accreditation Councils at the State level, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has constituted a committee to look into the grievances such as pay & allowances, working conditions and other benefits/ facilities in respect of nurses, who are working in private hospitals/nursing homes etc., if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Union Government has issued any guidelines to States/UTs in this regard, if so, the details thereof and response of the State Government thereon; and

(e) the other measures being taken by the Government to tackle the problems being faced by nurses in the country?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): Health is a State subject. The Government of India has, however, enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 and also notified the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 for registration and regulation of Clinical Establishments with a view to prescribe the Minimum Standards of facilities and services provided by them. The National Council for clinical establishments has approved Minimum
Contd…….

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Standards in respect of major General categories of clinical establishments and 35 specialty/super-specialty categories of allopathic clinical establishments. Currently, the Act is applicable in the States of Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, U.P, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Assam and all Union Territories except Delhi.
(b): National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) has been established under the Quality Council of India for accreditation of hospitals.
(c) & (d): In compliance of the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 29th January, 2016 in WP(C) No. 527/2011, a Committee had been constituted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 20th September, 2016, to look into the working conditions of private nurses. The Committee has already submitted its report. The Committee has made recommendations regarding salary and working conditions of nurses. The report has been sent to all States/UTs for appropriate action.
(e): Health is a State subject. It is within the remit of State Government to take care of such concerns.
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