Panel reviews 6,000 objections to Maharashtra clinical establishments bill

Nearly 6,000 suggestions and objections are before a 21-member Joint Select Committee reviewing Maharashtra’s proposed Clinical Establishments Act, including concerns from Mumbai’s space-constrained clinics and maternity homes.

The draft law, tabled in the state legislature in July, would make registration with state authorities compulsory for all clinical establishments. Non-compliance could draw penalties of up to ₹5 lakh. It is intended to replace the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949, which the state government has said is inadequate for monitoring present-day healthcare facilities.

At its first stakeholder meeting on August 5, medical-sector representatives sought clarity and possible exemptions for establishments operating from premises smaller than the prescribed registration norms. They also objected to proposed requirements around displaying treatment rates, doctors’ names and remuneration, and warned against punitive enforcement.

The Maharashtra Association of Practising Pathologists and Microbiologists has sought clearer definitions of medical practitioners and mandatory registration of laboratories. The Indian Medical Association has asked for proportionate rules and a separate framework for facilities with up to 50 beds.

The committee plans five or six more stakeholder meetings before submitting its report, expected during the legislature’s winter session beginning in the first week of December.