Cuttack: All private nursing homes and diagnostic centres in the city and across the district are operating illegally, according to state health department sources.
At present, there are 300-odd nursing homes and diagnostic centres which do not adhere to guidelines prescribed by the state government.
According to sources, the state government in May 2016 had brought changes in the Clinical Establishment Act. While the clinical establishments were under the administrative control of the directorate of medical education and training (DMET) earlier, the district collector was appointed as supervisor and CDMO as inspecting officer of such facilities after amending the guidelines.
Similarly, the private clinics were put under two broad categories. Nursing homes having three-storey building, 30-bed facilities, ICU and SNCU with fire safety clearance certificates were classified under category A. Nursing homes having 10 or less beds under category B were directed to submit a declaration with the state fire department about their fire safety measures. The guidelines were implemented from December, 2016.
“However, neither A and B category nursing homes nor diagnostic centres have fire safety clearance,” said fire officer (central range) Brajendu Bhusan Das.
“Applications of 120 B category nursing home owners are lying at the collector’s office while 20 others have moved the Orissa High Court. “If we verify all the clinical establishments according to the guidelines, the centres will be closed down,” Das said.
When contacted, chief district medical officer (CDMO) Gangadhar Paramguru said, “Not a single nursing home or diagnostic centre is in a condition to run. However, if we close down all clinical establishments abruptly, a big crisis will arise in the healthcare sector.”
“Around 12,000 patients from different areas visit Cuttack for treatment and 25 per cent of them visit private nursing homes. If will close the nursing homes, the patients will have to depend on the SCB Medical College and Hospital. Consequently, the quality of treatment will also suffer at SCB.”
Collector Nirmal Mishra said, “I have received 150 files for fire safety approval and sent it to the CDMO for re-examination.”
A nursing home owner said, “It is difficult for us to follow the norms prescribed by the government to obtain fire safety certificates. As Cuttack is not a planned city, buildings have been built haphazardly. As per the government guidelines, there must be adequate space on the nursing home premises and the fire engines must move around freely. If we follow the guidelines, we have to shutter down all nursing homes.”
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