A Bill was passed in the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday to prevent unethical practices in clinical establishments and ensure a patient’s right to treatment.
Replying to a debate on the West Bengal Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2010, the State’s Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra said that private hospitals and nursing homes will, according to the new legislation, have to admit a patient without waiting for the patient’s party to pay.
State to bear cost
If the patient dies, the hospital or nursing home authorities must release the body to the patient’s party even if they are not in a position to pay the hospitalisation costs. The State Government will, in such cases, pay the legitimate costs for hospitalisation and treatment.
No new clinical establishment will be given a licence without proper inspection by the authorities concerned, Dr Mishra said.