3 weeks ago
New West Bengal health panel chief plans patient outreach
In the Indian state of West Bengal, there is a special group that helps when hospitals and patients have problems.
This group is called the Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission.
A retired judge named Biswajit Basu was chosen to lead the group on August 5.
He says the group did not use all the powers the law gave it.
Right now, 72 complaints from people are waiting to be looked at.
The group can even start its own cases without waiting for someone to complain.
Basu met the state's health minister, Sharadwat Mukherjee, to talk about the work ahead.
He wants more people to know the group exists, so they can complain peacefully instead of arguing at hospitals.
Basu also wants every action the group takes to help patients.
The group has 13 members, including a vice-chairperson and several doctors.
Retired judge Biswajit Basu, appointed chairperson of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission on August 5, said the panel had not fully exercised its legal powers.
Basu and members of the reconstituted 13-member commission met state health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee at Swasthya Bhavan on Saturday.
Basu said 72 complaints were pending before the commission.
He noted the commission has power to initiate suo motu cases and expressed confidence it can implement all provisions of the Act.
Basu said a priority is making the commission better known so people can register complaints peacefully instead of confronting hospitals.
- Who
- Retired judge Biswajit Basu, chairperson of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission, with members of the reconstituted 13-member commission and state health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee.
- What
- The newly reconstituted commission met the health minister, and its new chair said the panel had not fully exercised its legal powers while outlining plans for patient-focused public outreach.
- Where
- Swasthya Bhavan, the state health department office in West Bengal.
- When
- The meeting took place on Saturday; Basu was appointed chairperson on August 5.
- Why
- To address the 72 pending complaints, exercise the commission's full powers under the Act, and make the complaint process known to the public.
Key facts
- Commission
- West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission
- Chairperson
- Retired judge Biswajit Basu
- Appointment date
- August 5
- Commission size
- 13 members
- Vice-chairperson
- Moumita Godara Basu, IAS officer
- Pending complaints
- 72
- Governing law
- West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Act, 2017
- Meeting venue
- Swasthya Bhavan
Quotes
Biswajit Basu
Chairperson of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission
“We have to reach out to common people. How we can do that will be decided later. People must know they have a place to register complaints and voice grievances. They need not ransack a hospital and get involved in a heated altercation there.”
telegraphindia.com
“The commission did not fully exercise the powers given to it by law. It even has the power to initiate suo motu cases.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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