Hyderabad: Nearly 224 private hospitals in Hyderabad were found operating without mandatory registration under the district medical and health officer (DMHO), which is a basic requirement for establishing any healthcare facility.
In violation of the rules, these hospitals will be served with show-cause notices to explain why they did not register despite knowing the norms. They have been directed to temporarily shut down operations until all required documents are submitted and registration is completed. The hospitals have also been asked to submit their replies within three days.
The alleged lapse was found after district collector Harichandana Dasari conducted a survey to identify unregistered hospitals and cases of quackery in the city. The survey revealed that these 224 private hospitals were functioning without being registered under the DMHO.
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These hospitals, if run by qualified and licensed doctors, will be given an opportunity to explain the lapse. However, since registration is mandatory, they will still be required to close temporarily until they comply with all rules. In case of a quack running the facilities, the hospital will be shut down immediately.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, an official source said, “In cases where hospitals are run by qualified and licensed doctors, notices will be issued giving them three days to submit an explanation. Since they are qualified professionals, they are expected to be aware of the rules. A showcause notice will be served, and they will be asked to temporarily close the facility until all required documents are submitted and registration is completed.”
“The approach will be stricter in cases involving unqualified individuals running hospitals. If the survey finds that unqualified professionals are operating healthcare centres, the hospitals will be closed immediately. The DMHO will report such cases to the Telangana Medical Council, and FIRs will be registered against the quacks,” the official added.
Telangana Medical Council vice-chairman Dr Gundagani Srinivas said, “The district registration authority had the authority to take action against the erring hospitals. We are awaiting detailed information from the DMHO. Once the DMHO initiates action, we will be informed to take further steps. The hospitals will be fined accordingly, ranging from 50,000 to 5 lakh, depending on the nature of violation of National Medical Commission (NMC) norms.”
Dr Srinivas further added that over the past two years, the council had filed more than 600 cases against quacks for causing harm to the lives of common people.
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