Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, May 20
Intensifying its frontline battle against Covid, the Punjab government on Wednesday notified an ordinance to bring private clinical establishments into the ambit of its fight against the pandemic.
The notification, under sub section (3) of section 1 of the Punjab Clinical Establishments (Registration & Regulation) Ordinance, 2020, brings all clinical establishments having capacity of more than 50 beds under the provisions of the said ordinance, a press release said.
This is in line with the decision taken by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on April 10.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said the Ordinance would provide a mechanism for registration and regulation of clinical establishments in a professional manner, to ensure compliance of minimum standards of facilities and services, as well as transparency in the functioning of these establishments for fair and proper delivery of health services to the common man.
To implement the provisions of the Ordinance, a Punjab State Council for Clinical Establishments will be set up under the chairmanship of Administrative Secretary, Health & Family Welfare with Director, Health & Family Welfare as Member Secretary.
Members will include Director, Health Service (Family Welfare); Director, Health Service (Social Insurance), along with Directors of various recognised systems of medicine of the State Government, including but not limited to the Director Ayurveda, Head of Homeopathic Department; President of Punjab Medical Council; President of Punjab Dental Council; Registrar of Punjab Nurses Registration Council; and Registrar Punjab State Pharmacy Council.
Other members of the Council will include one representative each is elected by the executive of the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine, one representative from State Branch of Indian Medical Association, one from field of paramedical systems to be nominated by the state government, two representatives from amongst the state level consumer groups or reputed Non-Government Organisations working in the field of healthcare, to be nominated by the state government, and one Law Officer to be nominated by the state government as its Members.
As per the Ordinance, the Punjab State Council for Clinical Establishments has been mandated to maintain the Punjab State Master Register, besides sending monthly returns for updating the National Register and representing Punjab in the National Council, as required by the Central Government or National Council established under Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010.
In addition, a State Registration Authority has also been constituted, with Director, Health & Family Welfare as Chairperson, along with a Deputy Director, Health & Family Welfare, Law Officer, to be nominated by the state government, and Nodal Officer of Director Health & Family Welfare as Members, for registration of clinical establishments with 100 or more beds.
Similarly, District Registration Authority in every district would consist of the concerned Civil Surgeon as Chairperson while District Family Welfare Officer, one representative of the District Attorney and District Nodal Officer of the respective district as its Members to discharge functions namely; registration of all clinical establishments of the respective district, except the clinical establishments having 100 or more beds.
The Ordinance also provides for Punjab State Appellate Authority headed by the Administrative Secretary, Health & Family Welfare as Chairperson besides Director Health Services (Family Welfare) and one Law Officer to be nominated by the state government as Members. The Appellate Authority has been mandated to hear appeals against the orders of State Registration Authority and District Registration Authority and perform such other functions, as may be determined by the state government.
