Delhi High Court praises the move to implement central law on clinical establishments

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) – The Delhi High Court has praised the Delhi Health Minister and Health Secretary for agreeing to implement the Central government statute, The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, to oversee clinical facilities in the national capital.

The court commended the decision of the authorities to advance the Delhi Health Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill to the Centre for approval. This move comes after the court had warned of jail time if they failed to comply with orders to shut down unauthorized pathology labs in Delhi.

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmohan P.S. Arora expressed satisfaction with this development, emphasizing the importance of regulating clinical establishments to protect the interests of patients and healthcare providers.

The court’s directive followed a petition by Bejon Kumar Misra, highlighting the operation of unlicensed laboratories and diagnostic centers by unqualified technicians in Delhi. The authorities’ commitment to addressing this issue led to the resolution of the 2018 petition.

Despite previous delays in enacting legislation to regulate clinical facilities, the court urged the Minister and Secretary to work together diligently. The bench emphasized the need for a regulatory framework to prevent the public from being misled by inaccurate medical reports.

The court’s firm stance reflects the gravity of the situation, with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 illegal pathology labs operating in the city. The Minister’s assurance that the Delhi Health Bill was finalized, and the court’s insistence on immediate action underscore the urgency of the situation.

In light of the ongoing dispute between the Minister and the Health Secretary, the court stressed that political differences should not impede the implementation of necessary measures. The close collaboration between the authorities is crucial to establishing an effective regulatory system for pathology labs in Delhi.