The Hindu Business Line : ‘Take industry into confidence on clinical Bill’

New Delhi, Jan 4 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Friday drawing concerns over the recently introduced Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2007, urged for industry participation.

The association said the Union Government should first hold consultations with all the State Governments and important stakeholders to arrive at a national consensus instead of moving forward and introducing the Act.

The Bill aims for a national footprint by providing for the registration and regulation of clinical establishments in the country to prescribe minimum standards of facilities and services which may be provided by them. However, its scope is currently restricted to only Union Territories and four States.

According to CII, the proposed composition of the National Council must include representation from the industry since the private sector is one of the largest stakeholders in providing healthcare in the country. The Bill suggests a “consultative process for determining standards and for classification of clinical establishments,” making it pertinent to involve the private sector in these consultations.

It also pointed out that some of the provisions of the Bill needed to be reconsidered since they would augment the scope for increased paperwork, bureaucracy and delays. It also recommended reconsideration of provisions relating to power to enter for inspection or inquiry.

CII suggested that the power of the authorities to issue such directions, including furnishing returns, statistics and other information needed reconsideration since many of the statistics and data, which the authorities might seek, could be privileged and confidential information and might not be divulged for business reasons being covered under confidentiality clause(s) and code of conduct regulations of companies / corporations in healthcare.

It said that it was necessary to conduct wide ranging deliberations with all stakeholders including industry, professionals, QCI, medical bodies before passing the Bill. It said the basic foundation and framework such as setting of minimum acceptable standards of quality be first put in place and consensus reached before the Bill is passed.