Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar Sep 19 (KINS): Taking cognizance of a news report, Jammu and Kashmir administration has asked private health facilities to get registered on Ayushman Bharat digital portal.
Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) last week reported that authorities have decided to monitor the working of all private hospitals in Kashmir including the credentials of non-local doctors working in them for the safety of patients.
After two back-to-back cases of alleged medical negligence at a private hospital, authorities have sealed the Operation Theatre of a hospital while directing the concerned not to carry out any surgical procedures till the completion of the inquiry.
The KINS also reported that there are many private health facilities which are not registered.
Taking notice, the administration on Monday through its circular directions informed all those hospitals /Nursing Homes/ Diagnostic Centres/Private Clinics to immediately get registered on the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Portal (abdm.gov.in) on the HFR Registry (Health Professional Registry).
The same is said to be required as all these establishments rendering health services to the citizens shall form a integral part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ecosystem.
The circular further reads that these directions are mandatory and may be complied at the earliest. For any queries/clarifications the State AB-DM Office, J&K may be contacted through email: amd.abdmjk@gmail.com, as had been given out in the circular.
The government has asked concerned officers to monitor the working of all hospitals for the safety of patients.
“Like government hospitals, the working of private hospitals has also to be monitored. It has also been decided to regularly check the facilities in hospitals,” an official said.
Besides, there is also no regulation of rates and patients are being charged as per the will of proprietors of these hospitals. There are also variations in tests in privately run medical labs.
As per the rules, it is mandatory for every doctor to obtain counsel registration before doing the practice in the Valley.
The registration is only being issued once the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir verifies the degrees from the Medical Council of India and the concerned institutions.
However, nothing such as per the officials is being followed by non-local doctors, who do practice in private hospitals in the Valley, officials said.
“We don’t know the credentials of the outside medicos serving in private hospitals and clinics. There must be accountability from where these doctors have received the degrees. It has been decided to make all these hospitals accountable and also monitor their working,” an official of the Health Department said. (KINS)
