Strict action against errant charity hospitals, special district level inspection drives to be launched: Maha minister

Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai, who has been assigned the Urban Development department during Monsoon session period, said in the Legislative Council that charity hospitals in Maharashtra will face stringent action if they fail to comply with government regulations.

The Minister on Tuesday added that special inspection drives will be conducted by district-level committees to rigorously verify hospital dashboards, the implementation of government healthcare schemes, and compliance with other mandatory conditions.

The announcement came in response to a query raised by Member Anil Parab during Question Hour.

Several other members, including Neelam Gorhe, Parinay Phuke, Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, Rajiv Potdar, Chitra Wagh, Bachchu Kadu, Niranjan Davkhare, Bhai Jagtap, Pramod Jathar, and Manisha Kayande, raised supplementary queries on the issue.

Minister Desai told the House that district-level monitoring committees are currently operational in every district of the state to oversee charity hospitals.

He emphasised that these committees must hold regular meetings to inspect whether hospitals are adhering to the rules.

The Additional District Collectors, in their capacity as member-secretaries, will be immediately instructed to launch special inspection drives.

Hospitals found with deficiencies will face strict punitive action.

The state government is closely monitoring complaints regarding exorbitant fees charged by hospitals.

The state administration is also considering appointing Special Public Prosecutors to handle such cases, the Minister said.

He added that it is compulsory for all eligible charity hospitals to effectively implement various government health initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

According to the Minister, hospitals are legally required to display dashboards showing information regarding free treatments.

Strict warnings have been re-issued to multiple hospitals that have failed to comply, and appointed ‘Arogya Doots’ (health emissaries) will verify compliance on the ground.

Adding to the discussion, Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal said that the ongoing case regarding Global Hospital is currently sub-judice, with the next court hearing scheduled for July 21.

While notices were previously issued to cancel the hospital’s nursing registration and occupancy certificate, the court has granted a stay order.

The final decision will become clear after July 21, following which legal procedures to reclaim the additional FSI (Floor Space Index) allocated to the hospital will be initiated based on feedback from the respective departments.

Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narahari Zirwal announced in the Legislative Council that the state government will allocate the necessary funds for the modernisation of the Triple Vaccine (DPT) Production Laboratory at the Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited.

The Minister was responding to a query raised by MLC Bhai Jagtap regarding the provision of funds for upgrading the Haffkine facility.

MLCs Prasad Lad and Sanjay Khodke also participated in the discussion.

Minister Zirwal told the House that out of a previously requested Rs 1,100 crore for Haffkine’s overall development, Rs 35 crore has already been disbursed.

An additional demand for Rs 30 crore has been submitted, and the process to release funds for modernisation is underway.

“Haffkine is a globally and nationally renowned institution. It is currently facing certain challenges regarding staffing, salaries, staff quarters, and other amenities. These issues will be resolved in a phased manner,” Minister Zirwal said.

He added that a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be organised soon to address the pending issues and revitalise the corporation.

The Minister emphasised the national importance of the vaccines and medicines produced at Haffkine.

Plans are being drawn up to boost the production of essential vaccines, including those for Polio and Diphtheria.

He reiterated that the state government remains fully committed to making the Haffkine Corporation highly capable and modern.

–IANS

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