Mumbai: The Bombay HC on Friday directed the state government to submit details of the action taken against hospitals and nursing homes, operating illegally, across the state. This comes after Advocate General informed the HC about the government’s drive against illegal hospitals, launched last year.
Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhkoni informed a division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Girish Kulkarni of the ‘random’ inspection, conducted last year. “Around 6,000 nursing homes and hospitals were found operating in breach of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act. We have taken action against 3, 000 odd nursing homes and hospitals by sealing their premises. Even their staff including doctors were even arrested and remanded to judicial custody,” AG Kumbhkoni said.
Having heard his submissions, the bench noted that there was no data regarding the action taken against the remaining 3,000 hospitals and nursing homes, made available by the government.
“We want to know as to what action have you taken against the remaining 3,000 establishments. These might be still operating in various parts of the state. This cannot be permitted since the health and lives of the citizens is at stake,” Justice Patil said.
The judges accordingly directed AG Kumbhkoni to submit the details on the next date of hearing.
During the course of hearing, AG Kumbhkoni also informed the judges that the government has drafted a law for regulating nursing homes and hospitals in the state. He said that the new law would be similar to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, which was introduced by the Union government in 2010. He also told the judges a committee is studying the suggestions and objections of medical fraternity to the proposed law and the same is at the fag end of being finalised. He also said that the proposed law would soon be tabled before the Maharashtra State Assembly.
The judges were hearing a PIL filed by Atul Bhosale, a resident of Pune, seeking regulation of nursing homes and hospitals, operating in the state.