Archive · 31 Oct 2025
India Hospitals Evade Infection Control Due to Lack of Regulation
Imagine if your school didn't have rules about washing your hands before lunch.
Some hospitals in India are like that with germs.
There aren't many strict rules from the government that say they *must* have special ways to stop germs from spreading.
So, many hospitals don't try very hard to do it.
Some hospitals choose to get a special stamp of approval, like a gold star, from a group called NABH.
These hospitals do try harder to control infections.
But most hospitals don't have this stamp because it costs money and they don't have to.
Also, in America, if a patient gets sick from a germ in the hospital, the hospital doesn't get paid extra for it, which makes them careful.
But in India, insurance companies usually pay the extra money, so hospitals don't have a big reason to be extra careful.
The government is starting to collect more information, which might help in the future, but for now, controlling germs is mostly up to each hospital.
India lacks mandatory government regulations and monitoring systems for hospital infection control protocols.
The Clinical Establishments Act, intended to set minimum standards including infection control, has been implemented in only 19 states and is rarely enforced.
Hospital accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) is voluntary, and only a small fraction of Indian hospitals are accredited.
Unlike in the US, Indian insurance companies generally cover additional treatment costs for hospital-acquired infections, reducing the financial incentive for hospitals to prevent them.
While digital health initiatives and increased awareness are emerging, infection control remains largely an arbitrary and voluntary practice in many Indian healthcare facilities.
- Who
- Hospitals and nursing homes in India, patients, healthcare professionals, government regulators, and insurance companies.
- What
- Hospitals in India often evade implementing standard infection control protocols due to a lack of mandatory regulations and enforcement, leading to potential healthcare-associated infections.
- When
- Ongoing, with a history dating back to at least 1989 when Dr. Narin Sehgal obtained a license without infection control requirements. The Clinical Establishments Act was enacted in 2010 but has limited implementation.
- Where
- India, specifically within the healthcare sector including hospitals and nursing homes.
- Why
- Lack of mandatory government regulations, no system to monitor infection rates, absence of punitive action for non-compliance, and insurance policies that often cover the extra costs associated with hospital-acquired infections.
Mandatory Regulation Advocated
Current Voluntary System
Regulatory Oversight
Mandatory Regulation Advocated
Experts and NABH CEO advocate for mandatory quality control and a law requiring hospitals to implement infection control protocols to ensure uniformity and precision.
Current Voluntary System
Currently, infection control practices are not assessed at the time of registration for most hospitals, and compliance is largely voluntary unless a hospital seeks NABH accreditation.
Insurance as Incentive
Mandatory Regulation Advocated
In the US, Medicare and Medicaid refuse to reimburse extra costs for hospital-acquired infections, creating a strong incentive for hospitals to prevent them.
Current Voluntary System
In India, insurance companies generally cover additional treatment costs for hospital-acquired infections, lessening the financial accountability for hospitals.
Need for Enforcement
Mandatory Regulation Advocated
Dr. Sehgal believes hospitals without NABH accreditation should not be allowed to operate, suggesting strict enforcement is the only way to ensure good practices.
Current Voluntary System
While some hospitals have infection control protocols, the extent of their implementation is unknown due to a lack of monitoring and punitive action for non-compliance.
- Accreditation Body
- National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH)
- NABH Accredited Hospitals in India
- 2,700 out of over 70,000
- Clinical Establishments Act Implementation
- 19 states (enacted in 2010)
- US Medicare/Medicaid Policy
- Refuse reimbursement for hospital-acquired infection treatment costs
- Indian Insurance Policy
- Generally covers additional costs from hospital-acquired infections