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| Sunday, 16 May 2004 |
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New act to streamline private health care system The much awaited Private Medical Institution Act, which was shelved for the last 12 years, will get Cabinet approval shortly. The Bill intends to give more teeth to control the irregularities of the private health care system and to make the sector more 'patient friendly'. The long felt need to regularise private health care institutions was not tackled for years amidst the promises of various Health Ministers. The new Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has instructed Ministry officials to expedite activities to present the Bill soon before the Parliament. The Bill will give guidelines to all private health care institutions including hospitals, nursing homes, maternity homes, medical laboratories, blood banks, dental surgeries, dispensaries, consultation rooms, and any establishment providing health screening or health promotion services. A separate body will be instituted under the Act to monitor the activities, which is expected to minimise irregularities in private sector health institutions while fostering their development. According to Ministry sources, there are 160 private medical institutions and 800 private dispensaries including family physicians in the country. Over 60 per cent of the population obtain medical treatment from private medical institutions. There are complaints that some private hospitals do not provide a quality service as they lack trained medical staff to provide a satisfactory service. The Executive Council, headed by the Secretary, will be empowered to monitor the activities of private health institutions. Those who want to start a private medical service needs to register with the Council within three months of establishing the service. According to Ministry officials, no hospital can increase charges arbitrarily under the new regulations. There will be a price range for all services and charges can be made only within the given range. (SSL) |
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