Watchdog for private hospitals

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva has appointed a Regulatory Commission to register, systematise, supervise and inspect private medical institutions.

"All unregistered private medical institutions should be registered with the Commission within three months," a Health Ministry spokesman said. Although there are about 200 private medical institutions in operation only 80 have been registered with the Ministry.

They should charge a reasonable fee for the services they provide for patients without charging exorbitant fees, the spokesman said.

The new Commission will oversee all new private medical institutions mushrooming all over the country. This will be done in order to provide a better health care service to the public for the high fees charged by these institutions.

The Commission is empowered to monitor whether these private medical institutions recruit persons with the relevant minimum qualifications, whether they train them according to the relevant minimum standards and whether they ensure quality of service.

The Commission will formulate a special programme to ensure that patients receive quality health care and service.