The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 seeks to regulate all clinical establishments in India. The Act requires all clinical establishments to register themselves and provides a set of standard treatment guidelines for common diseases and conditions.
Salient features of the Clinical Establishments Act 2010:
- Definition: “Clinical establishment” is defined as hospitals and clinics and similar facilities that offer treatment for illness in any recognised system of medicine (allopathy, yoga, naturopathy, Ayurveda, homoeopathy, Siddha and Unani). The definition also includes any laboratory which offers pathological, chemical and other diagnostic services.
- Every clinical establishment has to be registered to admit patients for providing treatment. Norms required to be met prior to registration include
- Minimum standards of facilities
- Minimum qualifications for the personnel.
- National Council of Clinical Establishments: The central government shall establish a National Council of Clinical Establishments to
- Determine the minimum standards of health care by a clinical establishment;
- Classify them into categories;
- Maintain a national register of clinical establishments.
- The National Council of Clinical Establishments shall be chaired by the Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) and 22 other members (includes consumer groups and Associations of Indian Systems of Medicine).
- Every state government shall establish a State/Union Territory Council for clinical establishments.
