Denial of Treatment in Emergency Conditions by Hospitals

Denial of Treatment in Emergency Conditions by Hospitals

Under Section 12 (2) of the Clinical Establishments (Registration & Regulation) Act, 2010, the Clinical establishment shall undertake to provide within the staff and facilities available, such medical examination and treatment required to stabilize the emergency medical condition of any individual who comes or is brought to such Clinical establishment. The Act also makes provision for minimum standards of facilities, services and minimum requirement of personnel for registration and regulation of the Clinical establishments.

However, ‘Health’ is a State subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments to monitor and regulate the hospitals. Once adopted by the State Government, the above mentioned provision of the Act shall be applicable to the State concerned.

The Act has come into force in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim and the Union Territories with effect from 1st March, 2012. The States of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand have adopted this Act. Other States have also been requested to adopt the Act.

As far as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi is concerned, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC) at AIIMS is a specialized center for treating injured patients and is always ready (24X7) for handling any Emergencies (Individual/ multiple casualty incidents/ mass disasters). There is no such incidence reported from JPNATC, AIIMS.

This information was given by the Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.