STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Some nursing homes in Guwahati and other towns of Assam are running their business without occupancy certificates, as also certain requisite facilities.
Last year, the erstwhile Commissioner of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Devashish Sharma had noticed that many nursing homes in the city were operating without occupancy certificates and issued notices on September 21, 2021, asking the nursing homes to submit occupancy certificates and as-built plans. The GMC carried out this activity for record-keeping and further verification purpose.
Official sources said that although almost a year has elapsed after the GMC notices were issued, many nursing homes have not submitted occupancy certificates and as-built plans.
Pointing out that nursing homes are being established not only in urban areas but is semi-urban areas of the state as well, the sources said that most of them are flouting various rules and regulations. In fact, some nursing homes are operating from rented premises which are not at all suitable for the purpose.
Heath Department officials pointed out some common complaints regarding haphazardly-set-up nursing homes. "They often provide substandard care and force patients to live in conditions that are cramped, stifling, unclean and sometimes unsafe," an official said.
The official further said that many such nursing homes lack facilities for scientific disposal of bio-waste. The nursing homes must have an incinerator for disposal of bio-waste, the official said. He added that as per Indian Medical Council (IMC) Regulations 2002, each nursing home should prominently display charges for consultation as well as other procedures/services, but many nursing homes do not follow this regulation. This has led to noticeable difference in the fees charged for the same service by different nursing homes.
Consequently, the Health Department will soon take steps to streamline the functioning of nursing homes, especially those that have haphazardly sprung up in semi-urban areas.
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