19 August 2010 06:18 am
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed officials to take measures to amend the Private Hospital Regulatory Act with immediate effect as the regulatory body, the Private Hospital Regulatory Council (PHRC) established under the Act has failed to bring desired results and act on errant private hospitals.
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena says the Health Ministry is unable to take action against private hospitals on public complaints as a result of legal impediments found in the Private Hospital Regulatory Act.
The PHRC was established in 2008 consequent to the passage of Private Hospital Regulatory Act in Parliament in 2007.
Minister Sirisena said the huge power concentrated on the PHRC has made it a monopoly and the Ministry is not in a position to take action against private hospitals and nursing homes when complaints were received from the aggrieved public.
“This must be stopped and there must be a proper regulatory system that keeps a watchful eye not only on private hospitals and nursing homes but on private medical practice,” Minister Sirisena stressed.
The Health Ministry will draft the necessary amendments to the Private Hospital Regulatory Act with the assistance of the Legal Draftsman, obtain cabinet approval and present it in Parliament shortly.