1 hr ago
Bengal Health Commission Plans Steeper Fines, Private Hospital Inspections
West Bengal’s health commission wants to check private hospitals and nursing homes more closely.
It plans to start inspections in North Bengal very soon.
The commission will listen to complaints from patients and their families.
Many complaints involve bills that people believe are too high.
The commission may increase the current maximum fine of ₹50 lakh.
Its chairperson wanted a very large increase, but another member asked him to reconsider.
The commission also wants to make it easier for people to submit complaints.
It has 145 cases waiting to be heard.
The West Bengal Clinical Establishment and Regulatory Commission plans to raise the current ₹50 lakh maximum penalty for private healthcare establishments.
Inspections of private hospitals and nursing homes will begin in North Bengal within a day or two.
The commission will examine patient complaints, including inflated bills and excessive charges for treatment, medicines and consumables.
The 13-member panel wants to improve public access through outreach, advertisements, hoardings, puja-pandal stalls and the Book Fair.
A total of 145 cases are pending, while the commission has not yet decided how frequently hearings will be held.
- Who
- The 13-member West Bengal Clinical Establishment and Regulatory Commission, chaired by retired Justice Biswajit Basu.
- What
- The commission plans to increase penalties for private healthcare establishments and begin inspections of hospitals and nursing homes.
- Where
- Inspections will begin in North Bengal and later cover private clinical establishments across West Bengal.
- When
- The decision was made at the commission’s first meeting on Wednesday; inspections are expected to start in a day or two.
- Why
- To investigate patient complaints, deter overcharging and improve the services provided by clinical establishments.
Steeper Penalties
Reconsidered Increase
Proposed fine increase
Steeper Penalties
Chairperson Biswajit Basu said he wanted a steep rise in the penalty cap, arguing that higher fines could deter misconduct by clinical establishments.
Reconsidered Increase
A commission member asked Basu to reconsider the size of the increase, and the commission has not yet decided the new penalty amount.
Key facts
- Current maximum penalty
- ₹50 lakh
- Commission size
- 13 members
- Inspections
- Scheduled to begin in North Bengal in a day or two
- Primary complaints
- Inflated bills and excessive charges for treatment, medicines and consumables
- Pending cases
- 145 cases awaiting hearings
- Outreach plans
- Advertisements, hoardings, puja-pandal stalls, the Book Fair and doctors’ social media
- Hearing schedule
- Not yet decided; frequency may depend on the number of complaints
Quotes
Justice (retired) Biswajit Basu
Chairperson of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment and Regulatory Commission
“One of the proposals in today’s meeting was to raise the penalty amount for clinical establishments... A higher cap will act as a deterrent. I wanted a steep rise, but a member of the commission told me to reconsider. We haven’t decided on the amount of the penalty yet”
telegraphindia.com
“We will try to reach out to a larger number of people... access to the commission’s office will become easier”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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