Lok Sabha Question No. 5598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Reuse of Disposable Items by Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5598 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH JULY, 2019

## REUSE OF DISPOSABLE ITEMS BY PRIVATE HOS PITALS

## 5598. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  fact  that  private  hospitals  includin empanelled under CGHS r euse disposables to earn profit at the cost of public health, if s details thereof;
- (b) whether such items are sterilised after one procedure and reused and the patients are full amount of it;
- (c) if so, whether the Union Government has issued warning against reuse of disposable surg items, particularly in cardiology, when they are meant for one - time use, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether all disposable items bear instructions on the packa ging that it should be used only once and cannot be reused after sterilisation, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether Cath lab technicians and dealers who sell disposables and stents to hospita also confirmed that such reuse was common; and
- (f ) if so, the action taken by the Government against the defaulters?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (f): As  per  Constitutional  provisions,  'Health'  is  a  State  subject  and  such issues would  generally  be  addressed  to  the  State/Union  Territory  concerned  for  taking  approp action  as  per  the  provisions  of  Act  and  Rules  applicable  in  the  concerned  State/UT. regarding  complaints  received  by  States  and  action  taken  by  the  Stat es  is  not  maintained centrally.  Taking  action  to  prevent  and  control  such  practices  is  within  the  remit Government.

The  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Clinical  Establishments  (Registration Regulation) Act, 2010 and notified Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 for registration of Clinical Establishments with a view to prescribe the Minimum Standa facilities and services provided by them. Under the said Act, the National Council for establis hments  has  approved  Minimum  Standards  for  different  levels  of  Hospitals.  Thes minimum  standards  inter - alia  provide  that  the  hospitals  should  have  adequate  drugs,  medic devices  and  consumables  commensurate  to  the  scope  of  services  and  number  of  beds.  The se standards further provide that the quality of drugs, medical devices and consumables s ensured.  The  Hospitals  are  also  required  to  follow  standard  precautions  like  practici hygiene,  use  of  personal  infection  equipment  etc.  and  infection  co ntrol  practices  including compliance  to  Bio - Medical  Waste  Management  Rules  to  reduce  high  risk  of  healthcare associated  infection.    Currently,  the  Act  has  been  adopted  by  11  States  namely,  Si Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, U.P, Bihar, J harkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Assam and Haryana and all Union Territories except Delhi. The implementati and enforcement of the said Act falls within the ambit of the States/Union territories.

Further, Central Government has published Medical Devices Rules 2017 effective fro 01.01.2018. As per the said rules, Medical Device intended to be used for single use sh labeled appropriately.