New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday announced a nine-member expert committee to recommend concrete measures for the improvement of private hospitals/nursing homes.
Addressing a press conference, Mr Jain said the decision was taken following a series of meetings chaired by him with various professional and regulatory organisations representing doctors working in various medical institutions across the national capital.
He said that several complaints had been brought to his notice regarding allegations of excessive charges, refusal/delay in providing immediate medical care to victims of crime or road accidents, compelling patients to buy drugs from in-house pharmacy, rude behaviour of health care workers and delay in initiating medico-legal cases.
The Minister said that to address these issues and for preparation of a comprehensive protocol for private hospitals/nursing homes, he has constituted a nine-member committee including Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Kirti Bhushan, President of IMA Dr KK Aggarwal and Dr Arun Gupta President of DMC.
Mr Jain said that the committee has been requested to submit its recommendations by December 31 and also prepare a mechanism so that all private hospitals/nursing homes should as far as possible only prescribe drugs mentioned in National List of Essential Medicines (NELM).
He also asked to prepare a mechanism on price to be charged by private hospitals/nursing homes for medicines and consumables and not compelling patients to buy drugs from in-house pharmacy. To develop a mechanism for eradicating cuts and commissions in medical practice.
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