NHRC Notices to Centre and Bihar Government

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Centre and Bihar government over a large number of healthcare facilities running without mandatory registration in Munger district of the state.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that a large number of hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are running illegally without any registration in the Munger district of Bihar in spite of specific law passed by the state government in 2013, the panel has sought a detailed report in the matter.

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Reportedly, out of 40 private hospitals running in the district, only four are lawfully registered, it said.

"The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of human rights. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar; Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; and Chairman, National Medical Commission, calling for detailed reports on the matter within four weeks, including steps taken/proposed to be taken against the illegally running clinical establishments in the region.

"The Commission has also observed that the Right to Life and Health are basic human rights and such serious violations by the clinical establishments, if true, is a matter of concern," it said.

The information was reportedly collected by an RTI activist.

The report stated that as per provisions of the Bihar Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2013, registration of health care facilities is mandatory and violators have to pay a fine.

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