Andhra Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (APNA) has opposed the government's move to regulate functioning of the corporate hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

APNA president Y Ravinder Rao said, at a press conference here on Monday, the proposed 'Medical Registration Act' aimed at regulating the hospitals in private sector would be opposed. The act, which came into effect, would make it mandatory on small and medium nursing homes, too, with 10-20 beds to display surgery charges and out-patient charges. It has also stipulated that at least three doctors should be present in such hospitals. It sought to make structural changes of buildings which housed these nursing homes and clinics, he said.

While such stipulations can be applied to "Flourishing corporate hospitals," it would not be possible to follow in small and medium hospitals owned by doctors. As many as 650 small and medium hospitals are operating in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and are members of APNA. Another 400 such hospitals were being operated independently, Rao said.

The changes the act sought to enforce in structure of buildings housing these hospitals cannot be carried out because most of them were located in rented buildings. The APNA, he said, would put across its points of view during a meeting with the chief secretary soon.