KARACHI, June 13: Through a regulatory body, in the offing, the Sindh government will soon make all hospitals and health centres in the private sector abide by a code of conduct, said the Provincial Minister for Health, Shabbir A Qaimkhani, on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at the Sindh Secretariat, the minister said that his department in consultation with the law department had prepared a draft ordinance, which will be called the ‘Sindh Private Hospitals and Clinics (Regulation and Control) Authority’.

The draft will be placed before the Sindh Cabinet prior to its promulgation by the governor, he added.

Under the ordinance, all existing and new hospitals and health centres in the private sector will have to get registered with the Authority, an independent body, and charge patients as per the fee and rate structures approved and reviewed by the Authority from time to time.

The proposed ordinance also calls for categorization of private health care units, including those of Allopathic, Homeopathic, Ayurvedic, Unani (Hakim), hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and physiotherapists, into three types, keeping in view the medical facilities available with them and the services they offered to patients.

Mr Qaimkhani said the proposed set of laws would be the first of its kind in the country.

The Authority will aim at eliminating grievances of people against private hospitals, he said, adding that the health department had been initiating enquiries against private institutions, but in the absence of relevant legislation or legal provisions, it could not go for any action against them.

He said the Authority would give minimum standards for safe operation of hospitals or clinics or diagnostic centres, and will check them periodically for the betterment of patients through a committee nominated by the Authority.

He said that after the promulgation of the ordinance in question, no new healthcare institution could be opened in the province without an NOC from the Authority.

He also said that no hospital or clinic or diagnostic centre will be allowed to continue unless it is enrolled with the Authority in a period of six months after it (authority) is made effective.

Mr Qaimkhani said that all sorts of hospitals and centres including charitable or welfare health institutions would be brought into the net of the Authority.

He said that people would be in a position to lodge complaints against private hospitals, clinics or diagnostic centres with the Authority for fair and transparent investigations.

Any person contravening the provisions of the proposed ordinance shall be punished with imprisonment of three years or a penalty of Rs0.5 million, or both.

Through the ordinance, the Sindh Health Department will also be able to check quackery, the minister said.

The press conference was also attended by the Secretary Health, Dr Naushad A Shaikh, additional secretaries, senior health officials and representatives from a few private hospitals and professional bodies of doctors.

A source in the health department said the chief minister had issued directives in June 2004 to enact appropriate laws for proper regulation and control of private hospitals, and at later stages, also showed his interest in the matter.

The governor had also appreciated the move pertaining to law for independent health providers on the pattern of countries in Europe, America and South Asian.

It was further learnt that three meetings with the representatives of private hospitals, medical associations and other NGOs were also held during the last nine months.

Their apprehensions were discussed with the law department and rectified in order to make the draft ordinance acceptable to all concerned, added the source.

The proposed Authority will be represented equally by members from both the government and private sectors, while the health secretary will be its chairman.

Licenses/certificates will be valid for three years, in normal circumstances.

However, if there is any grievance against any decision or actions of the Authority, the affected quarters can file an appeal to the government, said a source privy to drafting of the ordinance.

Under the laws, a health centre would not be in a position to refuse medical cover, emergency medical treatment, nor would it be able to refuse to admit a person or injured, who is reported or referred.

A centre enrolled with the government under the proposed set of laws will be bound to ensure medico-legal facility and will not refuse any person or injured medical treatment.