Private nursing homes and hospitals in the twin cities will now have to follow a Code of Ethics that will make it mandatory for them to standardise the rates, make billing transparent, counsel patients and follow laid down procedures for treatment and diagnosis of ailments. The Code of Ethics is to be followed by all the 450 medical institutions registered under the Andhra Pradesh Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association's (APNA) Hyderabad and Rangareddy District branch.
The decision to formulate a Code of Ethics was taken at the general body meeting of the Association in August and is being circulated to all medical institutions that are registered with the Association. If implemented in letter and spirit, the Code of Ethics will ensure uniform rates for all diagnostic tests. For example, an endoscopy will cost the same at any of the private nursing homes or hospitals in the twin cities.
According to Dr NLN Sharma, president, APNA city branch, the Code of Ethics also makes it necessary for the in-patient to be told at the time of admission as to why the person is being admitted, what disease preliminary test results show, the mode of treatment to be followed and the estimated cost of the treatment.
All qualified doctors with an MBBS degree are also being counseled by APNA office-bearers to refrain from participating in clinics run by quacks or registered medical practitioners who are not allopathic doctors.
Further, to ensure minimum standards at private nursing homes and hospitals with regard to infrastructure, staff strength, medical and diagnostic equipment, all medical institutions that are members of APNA are being surveyed. APNA has visited 250 medical institutions in the twin cities since June as a part of this survey.
Major and minor operation theatres at these medical institutions are also coming under the scanner of the APNA and the managements of the nursing homes that found wanting in terms of quality of service are being given time to upgrade their facilities.
The survey on the private hospitals is to be completed by the end of October and a report on the status of the medical institutions will be submitted to the convention of Andhra Pradesh Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association that will be held in November.