Morung Express News
Kohima | July 29
The medical sector, excluding government-run health centres, has clearly witnessed phenomenal growth over the past 10-20 years in Nagaland.
The period has had the establishment of several private health care centres, including clinics, nursing homes, hospitals and diagnostic facilities juxtaposed by a growing demand for affordable medical care within the state. A positive trend, however, there is a catch to it.
While the rising health care centres are catering to the needs of the population, it would be rather astounding to note that several of the private health centres are operating illegally i.e. without registering with the appropriate authority.
If the latest data, obtained via the RTI Act, is any indication, many well known private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics have fallen short of registration guidelines mandated by the Nagaland Health Care Establishment (NHCE) Act 1997.
The RTI data from the Directorate of health & Family Welfare point to a third of the known private hospitals in the state operating without obtaining license from the state Health authority.
As per a conservative estimate, there are atleast 27 private hospitals operating in Nagaland at present. (Table 1)
On the contrary, the RTI data indicate that there are only 16 private hospitals, which are registered as required by law. (Table 2)
No independent data could be obtained on the actual number of private nursing homes, clinics, day care centres and diagnostic facilities. But, as per the RTI data, there are 70 such health centres licensed with the state Health authority.
Lax enforcement
Meanwhile, word from the state Health officials, including the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) Minister, point to lax enforcement by the state government.
The H&FW Minister, S Pangnyu Phom, while admitting to this, said that “verbal instructions” have given in the past to keep a tab on the rise of unregistered health care centres. However, he said, “Our people are very indisciplined.”
A Department official concurred with the Minister’s comment, while stating that the Department has failed on its part to ensure the registration of private health care centres. According to him, the unregistered centres began operating solely by obtaining trade licence from the Municipal bodies.
Another official commented, “It is illegal to run any health care centre without registering and obtaining licence with the appropriate authority.” He went on add, Everyone is aware of the process (requirement) of registering and obtaining licence but if somebody chooses to act ignorant, it’s unlimited.”
A former Principal Director of the Department observed that there is a tendency to disregarding norms. As per the norms, he said that unregistered health centres should be closed down and the proprietors booked. “Unfortunately enforcement part is lacking,” he said.
He recalled, during his stint, making recommendation to the state government on the need to have proper enforcement as mandated by the NHCE Act, which apparently did not take effect. According to him, the government should seriously look into it by enforcing an effective strategy “to check illegal health care centres in the state.”
About the Act
The Nagaland Health Care Establishment (NHCE) Act was published in the Nagaland Gazette Extraordinary on April 16, 1997 to regulate setting up of private hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other such centres run by voluntary organisations catering to diagnostic, investigative, operative and other health care services.
Section 9 of the Act states, “No person shall set up any nursing home, clinics including the ones run by voluntary organisation except under a valid licence granted by the authority, and shall run without it having been registered in accordance with the provisions of the Act.”
It further stated that in case of a nursing home or clinic in existence, the proprietor shall apply to the authority for a licence and registration within three months.
This is the first of a two part series.
