Assam House makes treatment of emergency patients mandatory

Guwahati: Assam Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution to adopt the Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010, making it mandatory to treat anyone with "emergency medical condition".

Health and Family Welfare Minister Nazrul Islam introduced the resolution in the House and it was accepted unanimously.

"The House do now resolve and adopt this resolution for adoption of Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010 in the state of Assam under Article 252 of the Constitution of India," he said.

The Minister informed the House that the erstwhile Assam Health Establishment Act 1993 and Rules 1995 has thereof been already repealed.

The new Act was enacted by the Parliament for better and uniform system of registration and regulation of clinical establishments, Islam said.

One of the salient features of the new Act is that it will be obligatory for clinical establishments to provide treatment and stabilise anyone coming or is brought in an "emergency medical condition".

The Act is applicable to all clinical establishments belonging to any recognised system of medicine as well as single doctor units with or without beds.

A clinical establishment means a hospital, maternity home, nursing home, dispensary, clinic, sanatorium, etc.