The Qualified Private Medical Practitioners Association (QPMPA), in its 37th annual conference – QPCON-2011, to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from May 14 will discuss the newly enacted Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2010.

Dr M C Gupta retired Dean of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and now a legal consultant will make a key presentation on the Bill on the first day of the conference, said K Kishore Kumar, general secretary of the association.

According to sources, the physicians’ community, especially the IMA was opposing the passage of the bill in the parliament. All over India, doctors in the government and private sectors had voiced their opposition many a time. According to Dr Gupta the doctors now need to move the court to protect their fundamental rights.

The Clinical Establishment Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet for the registration and regulation of clinical establishments in the country in order to improve the quality of health services through the National Council for Standards. Under the Bill, there has to be categorization and classification of clinics, depending on their location and the medical services provided by them. The Union health ministry has already asked the state governments to adopt the Clinical Establishment Bill to make a comprehensive database of the health infrastructure in every state.

The conference will have the topic, “Licensing of pharmacies in private hospitals,” for discussion which caused  a lot friction between the members of QPMPA and the state drug control authorities, a few months ago. The Association had then moved the Supreme Court, but received only an unfavourable verdict.

Dr V V Pillai, HoD of toxicology department of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences will speak on Modern Trend in Toxicology.

The Punalur branch of the QPMPA is hosting the two day – QPCON-2011, 37th annual state conference and 2nd national conference of QPMPA, from May 14 at Gokulam Medical College, Venjarammoodu, Thiruvananthapuram. The programme is going to be held in collaboration with Gokulam Medical College. The conference will be inaugurated by the former minister of Kerala, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan MLA and presided over by Dr M A Koya, president of the Association. The conference will see participation of medical professionals from all over the country.