Andhra Pradesh

NGO frames guidelines for private hospitals

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT 20. Aiming at curbing unethical practices by corporate hospitals, private nursing homes and diagnostic clinics in the twin cities, the Medically Aware and Responsible Citizens of Hyderabad (MARCH) has come out with a set of guidelines that have been circulated in 400 medical establishments in the city.

The guidelines, predominantly ethical, suggest that hospitals and nursing homes should not insist on prescribed tests being done only in their institutions or that medicines be bought only from shops recommended by them. Doctors must not receive any consideration for suggesting a pathological clinic or laboratory for tests or a hospital for medical or surgical procedures.

Emergencies

Prominent among the guidelines are the suggestions that all emergencies be attended without insisting on pre-payment and full payment before the release of a body not be insisted upon. In accident cases with medico-legal implications, the hospitals must provide first aid and advise the patient or the person concerned about the next step. Requests that payment be made as soon as possible must be made only after the emergency is dealt with.

Respect for the patient's right to a second opinion in consultation with the treating doctor and making available necessary records for this purpose is also mentioned.

Complaints desk

The guidelines suggest that medical institutions break financial links with quacks, all large hospitals have a complaints desk for the management to periodically review complaints, unwarranted criticism of professional colleagues be avoided and institutions work within a framework of accountability, transparency and a culture of high customer satisfaction.

Released by the founder of the international NGO, Right to Livelihood Foundation, Baron Jakob von Uexkullm, during the MARCH's ninth anniversary meeting here on Sunday, the guidelines suggest that the entire schedule of charges for all tests and use of other facilities in the hospital be made available to patients, and they be given accurate information regarding the total cost of treatment, with the break-up. Billing must be done only for material that is used.

The Chairman of MARCH, P.M. Bhargava, said 52 institutions and 13 doctors in the city had so far declared that they would abide by the guidelines. Making the guidelines mandatory and making rules regarding infrastructure, qualified staff and prevention of misleading advertisements was up to the Government, he said.

`Bill yet to be notified'

He said a bill passed by the State Assembly two years ago regarding the registration of all medical establishments was yet to be notified as a Government Order, while curbs on misleading ads, infrastructure and staff depended on the strict implementation of existing rules.

The MARCH's guidelines include only those aspects regarding which there was no law at present, Dr. Bhargava said.

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