Nursing homes, clinics in dire need of govt. backing

Small nursing homes and clinics in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts with a strength of not more than five to six beds are finding it increasingly tough to survive in a highly-competitive market. A majority of these clinics and nursing homes are single-doctor and single-speciality driven and are struggling to compete with multi-speciality health centres that have cropped up everywhere in Hyderabad.

Owners of several such clinics and nursing homes point out that government regulations too have made it tough to operate such small-scale facilities these days.

In fact, since the past one year, members of Telangana Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes’ Association (TPNA) have been requesting the authorities to frame a new set of regulations that will be unique to small and medium-sized nursing homes and clinics.

“If a doctor wants to start a clinic today in Hyderabad, he/she has to spend at least a year seeking permissions from 25 to 30 different government departments. Worst still, these departments will give permission only for one year. Multi-speciality hospitals with deep pockets can survive such a system, but not single-speciality clinics and nursing homes,” rues president, TPNA, G.N. Reddy.

The association members have been demanding for a single window system that will go a long way in resolving such issues.

“Apart from the single window system, there is a need to frame rules specific to small-scale nursing homes. The minimum requirement for a no objection certificate from Fire Services Department is that the facility should have a 50,000-litre sump. Can a nursing home in the city with five beds have space for such a sump?” Dr. Reddy asks.

There are close to 2,000 nursing homes and clinics in the twin cities and Ranga Reddy district. To get NOC from the Fire Department, all these facilities should have overhead tank, sump, and multiple backup diesel generators etc. “These rules suit corporate hospitals with bed strength of more than 50. We are urging the government to provide us with some alternatives,” Dr. Reddy points out.

It has become mandatory for clinics and nursing homes to obtain trade licences. The TNPA members in the past had maintained that nursing homes and clinics are service oriented and should not be clubbed with profiteering. The members, who had met the health authorities, had urged the government to provide them an opportunity to participate in Arogyasri insurance scheme.

“We can provide cheaper medical services and personalised care to patients. We have urged the government to include us also in Arogyasri,” the TNPA members said.