The Role of District Health Authorities in Ensuring Patient Safety

Instances of unqualified individuals performing medical procedures raise concerns in Telangana. The need for stricter enforcement of regulations highlighted due to risks faced by patients. District health authorities play a vital role in ensuring public safety amidst challenges.

Hyderabad: The recent instance of an optometrist managing an entire hospital and conducting eye surgeries in Devarakonda, detected by the Telangana Medical Council (TMC), has once again highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of regulations and the challenges involved in implementing patient safety. A similar incident happened in April, again detected by the Medical Council, when a medical technician conducted 2D ECHO tests in a cardiac center in the absence of a qualified cardiologist and an MBBS doctor. Such developments not only spotlight the pervasive nature of quackery and unqualified medical practitioners but also expose gullible patients to the risks of undergoing treatment from such individuals. Senior doctors familiar with the developments have pointed out that the local District Medical and Health Officer’s (DM&HO) office in districts should play a proactive and greater role in regulating such illegal practices. The DM&HO’s office carries a broad mandate for public health administration and regulation of private health care facilities under the Clinical Establishment Act. The registration of private health care facilities must be issued only after a thorough inspection is carried out by district health authorities. The Act explicitly empowers the District Registration Authority (which includes the DM&HO) to refuse, suspend and cancel the registration of health care facilities. They can also conduct inspections and investigations, impose fines and penalties for non-compliance on private health care facilities. ‘This is not about a lack of power in the Act, but due to a lack of effective implementation and enforcement at the ground level. There are multiple reasons for that,’ a senior health official, on condition of anonymity, said. The DM&HO’s office has broad provisions and responsibilities, including ensuring the effective implementation of health care initiatives of the State and Central Government. ‘In the real world, the district health authorities are spread thin because of limited resources and a lot of responsibilities, in addition to implementing the Act,’ senior officials said. Challenges: • The health of patients is at risk due to pervasive quackery • Recurring incidents of unqualified individuals taking up complex health care activities • Active raids by the Medical Council expose the ineffectiveness of district health authorities • The District Health Wing is the implementing agency of the Clinical Establishment Act • District health authorities face multiple difficulties due to a resource crunch