Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 30: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today called for formulating modalities and strengthening policy framework to ensure fixation of prices of diagnostic tests and medicines along with categorisation of nursing homes.
The Minister said this while chairing the 18th meeting of State Consumer Protection Council here today.
The meeting discussed various issues which include , services provided to the consumers by Government and private hospitals, setting up of the procedures via committees to check variation in charges of nursing homes, rates fixed and facilities provided by these nursing homes, variation in charges of clinical labs , test results of clinical labs along with non-issuance of bills by most of the nursing homes.
The Minister stated that with required modification in the policy for classification of nursing homes in the state, the same would be initiated and its notification will be placed in public domain for generating awareness among the masses.
He further directed the Health department to ensure registration of general test laboratories and specialised test laboratories with their wider publicity for the benefit of the general public.
The Minister also mooted a proposal for establishment of diagnostic test laboratories on PPP mode to ensure private sector participation in health sector which at present stands at a nominal 5-7% and enhance entrepreneurial intervention of the youth in the state in establishing labs that will ensure employment generation in the State.
The Minister also directed the department to grant licenses after considerable check of establishment and services to be provided by the nursing homes.
Highlighting the need for public awareness, he directed the department to publicise the names of clinical labs ,both generalised and specialised, in both print and electronic media.
He also directed Director National Health Services to ensure upgradation of district hospitals with provision of advanced diagnostic equipments and excellent health services in remote areas so that referral rate towards tertiary health care providers is reduced and decongestion at tertiary level will automatically follow.
The Minister also directed the health department to ensure creation and activation of vigilance wing that will keep check on unethical activities with assurance of transparency in case of surgical dates, radio diagnosis and other special tests along with formation of prescription audit units to check prescription of fourth generation medicine without following standard treatment protocol for every disease.
He also directed the department to issue notification regarding prescription of generic medicines by the medical practitioners with wider publicity regarding 68 drugs under Government of India initiative of Free drug policy.
He directed the Controller Drugs and Food Control Organization to ensure establishment of food testing laboratories with latest equipments for rendering the test, with categorical directions to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to ensure testing of wheat rice and sugar before its distribution.
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