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 while laying stress on providing quality services by the private diagnostic centres and nursing homes to the consumers said that the necessary steps will be taken for reinstating the committee for fixation of rates to avoid fluctuating rates of diagnostic tests for the convenience of the public. He also asked the concerned officers to put in necessary efforts so that quality services are provided by the government and private health institutions to the consumers.
The minister while taking a serious note of the issue that varied reports are generated for one test in different diagnostic centres directed the health department for chalking out a checking mechanism in this regard.The minister was also apprised about the exercise carried out by the department of health in 2012 wherein notified rate list was issued by the department but the rate list was stayed by the High Court.Stressing on the need to work in close liason the minister said that consumer protection council will act as a platform to bring in coordination among the department of health, consumer affairs and legal metrology department wherein a committee already constituted for the purpose of price fixation , will be nominated with an official members from consumer affairs and non-official members of civil society which will revisit the issues pertaining to disparity in the rates and after exhaustive study of market trends and interaction with all stake holders formulate parameters for fixing established price list for various diagnostic tests. He categorically stated that consumers who are ultimate beneficiaries of government interventions must be made part of this committee.
The minister further 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. He also stated that the department should come up with the policy parameters to ensure calibration and frequent check of the equipments in the designated labs to ensure error free test results in the laboratories.The minister emphatically stated that Clinical laboratories should be made to follow the guidelines stringently to avoid any discrepancy in the test result of the patients that crop up when the test is performed in different labs.
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 further stated that safeguarding and protecting the rights of consumers is the prime concern of the government and there will be no compromise pertaining to all matters related with human health .The minister also directed the department to grant licenses after considerable check of establishment and services to be provided by the nursing homes.The minister instructed for upgradation of District Hospitals and ensuring better health services to the people that may directly benefit the tertiary health care providers by taking the burden off the Medical Colleges.Responding to the demands presented by civil society members the minister said that this meeting is a preliminary meeting for establishing the committee for price fixation and classification of nursing home and test laboratories.The minister also directed Principal GMC to check for any variation in diagnostic test rates of the college and PGI Chandigarh and bring the same at par in case of any anomaly.
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. He further directed NHM to ensure maximum publicity of schemes like RBS for the benefit of all in the society.
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.Stressing the need to work towards curbing the flow of substandard medicines in the market, the Minister highlighted the importance of maximum random checking of drugs from the market and quick action from the department including seizure of the lot from the market and imposing severe penalty as per rules.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 .He also emphasised the need for identification of hospitals for establishing de addiction units in collaboration with the narcotics department and police wings to check the drug menace in the society.The meeting was attended by Director CAPD ,Director Family Welfare, Controller Drugs and Food Control, Mission Director National Health mission , Director Health Jammu, Director Health Kashmir, HOD Community Medicine GMC Srinagar, Joint Controller Legal Metrology, officers of CAPD and Civil society members.