Medical establishments reluctant to register

 Incidentally, 7,614 applications were issued by the District Health Officer (DHO).
The KPME Act was notified late last year, under which all hospitals, diagnostic labs, therapeutic centres, clinics, polyclinics and Indian system of medicine should be registered under the respective District Registration Authority Committee. However, only 550 hospitals were registered in February, 2010 - when the initial deadline was declared.

"I am not happy with the registration, as there are establishments who have not registered under the KPME Act," said District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Thimmappa. Bangalore has more medical establishments owing to the ever increasing population. Even the registration applications received from establishments across the State do not show remarkable figures. Only 19,161 applicants showed interest by returning the application form out of the 25,545 applications issued till September. As for the registered establishments, 1,300 have been registered until last month. The registration is valid for five years after which the establishments will have to renew their registration by paying half of the initial registration fee.

Dr V Raju, Deputy Director (Medical) Department of Health said establishments who have not sent their applications will not be permitted to operate or consult. Also, the owners or doctors can be imprisoned or a fine of more than Rs 10,000 can be slapped on violators under the Act.

In addition to this, the applicants will be scrutinised before certificate is issued.