More private medical institutions seek registration

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: About 5000 private medical institutions have already obtained applications by yesterday for registration responding to the request made by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry, to register with the Private Health Services Regulation Council by June 22. Punitive measures will be taken against any private medical institution operating without registration, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said the registration will be a simple procedure which is free. The doctors who serve in State hospitals and have private medical institutions do not need to register with the Council once again but it is required to register their private medical institutions with the council.

The main tasks of the Private Health Services Regulatory Council are setting up standards, supervision and ensuring the implementation of the Private Medical Institution Act.

There are 200 private hospitals, 450 private medical laboratories, 15,000 private medical centres, 800 private dental services, seven ambulance services and 3000 private institutions which supply different medical services and there are 15,000 doctors who do part time private practice. The number of doctors who do full time private practice is 800.

The main objective of this move is to promote, assist and boost private sector health services and not to suppress them.

Registration will be very useful for the private sector and the public because the public can obtain their services with confidence and an assurance of good quality while the private medical institutions can promote their business through this recognition and credibility granted by the Government.