Former SC judge favours self-regulation for private healthcare

Self-regulation by doctors in private healthcare system would ensure transparency in hospital-patient relationship, former Supreme Court judge Justice N. Santosh Hegde said on Sunday.

"No need for external agency to regulate or monitor private healthcare system if doctors and nurses can maintain transparency when treating patients," Hegde said at the plenary session of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association here.

Expressing concern over irregularities in the private healthcare system, the former Karnataka Lokayukta said apex bodies like Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) should ensure self-governance for public interest by the medical fraternity.

"When policies are framed keeping public interest (in mind), what is achieved will be phenomenal without the intervention of the state," Hegde said.

With private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes meeting about 80 percent of the nation's healthcare needs, their managements have the responsibility to provide quality healthcare at affordable cost.

"We will set up an official chapter in each of the 30 districts across Karnataka to initiate measures for ethical conduct, healthcare standards and quality healthcare options to patients," association president Nagendra Swami said.

The session deliberated on issues faced by private hospitals and nursing homes on streamlining and standardising services and procedures.

"We cater to all healthcare stakeholders in the well being of patients than protecting and safeguarding interests of private hospitals and nursing homes," association vice-president C. Jayanna said on the occasion.

About 6,000 private hospitals and nursing homes are registered across the state under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, including 400 in Bengaluru, which are members of PHANA, while another 1,600 hospitals are affiliated to the association.