The West Bengal Assembly on Friday passed a Bill aimed at overhauling private healthcare and taking stringent measures against health institutions indulging in medical negligence and corrupt practices, The West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency Bill) Bill 2017 was passed by voice vote.
The legislation also repealed The West Bengal Clinical Establishment (Regulation) Act, 2010 passed by the Left Front government. Describing the move as historic, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the Health portfolio, hoped that similar measure would be emulated in the rest of the country. “We are giving an opportunity to mend your ways. The law is same for you and me,” Ms. Banerjee said in the Assembly, giving a stern message to private hospitals.
To end harassment
Participating in the discussion on the Bill, Ms. Banerjee said the law was aimed at bringing transparency, ending harassment of patients and checking medical negligence in private hospitals and nursing homes. The law also covers clinics, dispensaries and polyclinics.
In the House, the Chief Minister gave details of cases of medical negligence. Referring to reports of a senior executive of a private hospital tendering her resignation, she said this had justified the complaint made by the government against the hospital.
