Jammu, Sept 9: Nearly 60 private nursing homes functioning in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to face the government’s axe as the Inspection Committee constituted by the government is expected to submit its report this month.

 Sources said that the Health Department is waiting for the report as the Supreme Court had asked the state government to give time to these nursing homes to improve their infrastructure after they have approached the apex court in month of April, following ultimatum for their closure.

 “The State has decided to act tough now on them after the inspection committee submits its report as there is every possibility that most of them still have not complied with the norms set by the government,” said a official.

 When contacted, the Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma said, “We are waiting for the report after which suitable steps would be taken. Though we may again face some bottlenecks as Private Nursing Home Act has not been amended since 1963, but we are determined this time to act tough”.

 He said that action would be initiated both in Jammu and Kashmir valley as there are mushroom growth of private nursing homes, which still lack the proper infrastructure.

 In the month of May 2010, the Supreme Court had given June 11 deadline to the Nursing homes to strictly comply with the laid down norms.

 The petition was filed by Yudhvir Nursing Home on behalf of the private nursing homes after which the Chief Justice S H Kapadia had granted one month’s time the nursing homes in Jammu and Kashmir for completion of laid norms.

 Sources said that majority of private nursing homes are functioning in gross violation of the directions of the apex court on the issue.

 “Most of the nursing homes were allegedly money minting shops which besides charging the patients exorbitantly fail to provide proper treatment due to lack of required equipment and other facilities”, said a source.

 The tough stand adopted by the government came in the wake of inspection of 29 nursing homes in Jammu division and nearly 25 in Kashmir valley last year which showed that only four in Jammu and five in valley were complying with the norms.

 “The government had already given them sufficient time to meet all the norms in terms of providing required facilities to patients. The private hospitals are required to have a two-bed intensive care unit, besides multi-channel monitor, suction apparatus and ventilator. Lack of proper space is another glaring violation,” the Health Minister said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST