Many public sector healthcare institutions in Kerala, including district, general and taluk hospitals and public health labs, have yet to be registered under the Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018.

Till March 1 this year, a total of 13,633 institutions have got provisional registration and 3,021 have received permanent registration. This was revealed in reply to an RTI query posed by K.V. Babu, Kannur-based ophthalmologist and activist. The details for Ernakulam and Palakkad districts were not made available.

In Kottayam district, seven government institutions, including the Government General Hospital, Kottayam, and Government Taluk Hospital, Kuravilangad, and 67 private establishments are yet to get approval. In Malappuram district, six government institutions, including a public health lab, and 80 private establishments are on the list. In Idukki, six government institutions, including the Government District Hospital, and 13 private establishments have not got the approval. 

In Kollam, 33 government establishments, including the district public health lab and the GD Police Hospital, and 94 private institutions, are outside the ambit of the Act. In Alappuzha district, nine government and 20 private institutions, have yet to get approval. Nine government institutions and 76 private establishments have not been approved in Kannur district. Seven government establishments and 90 private institutions have not been approved in Thiruvananthapuram district.

“This available data should be an eye-opener for the new government, while enforcing the Act,” Dr. Babu said.

Hospitals, laboratories, dental clinics, AYUSH health centres, and all institutions - irrespective of the availability of inpatient facilities - providing diagnosis or treatment are classified as clinical establishments. They are required to prominently display their registration certificates as well. The Kerala High Court in November last year had dismissed petitions challenging the implementation of the Act and expressed strong displeasure over the inordinate delay in enforcing the legislation. Following this, the State government also issued a directive making the registration mandatory.