The Guidelines Overseeing Medical Practice and Healthcare Institutions in India

Abstract

Healthcare in India operates under a universal healthcare system administered by constituent states and territories. The law, as mandated by competent authorities, is a societal obligation, with noncompliance risking penalties such as fines or imprisonment. The ancient Code of Hammurabi and the Hippocratic Oath, established 2500 years ago by the Greek physician Hippocrates, laid the foundations for health practices and medical ethics. The modern Declaration of Geneva, devised by the WHO post-World War II, is recognized globally. Colonial-era healthcare system development necessitated legislative frameworks, leading to the formation of laws for practitioners. The Indian Medical Council Act of 1933 led to the creation of the Medical Council of India, a statutory authority responsible for regulating practitioners of modern medicine at the national level. Legal recognition for Indian systems of medicine followed the Bombay Medical Practitioner’s Act in 1938. Hospital commissioning laws ensure proper registration, safety, essential infrastructure, and periodic inspections. Various laws cover professional qualifications, drug storage, patient management, environmental safety, employment, medicolegal aspects, and patient, public, and staff safety within hospital premises. Additional laws govern professional training, research, business aspects, and certifications for hospitals. Hospital administrators must stay informed about these laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and amendments to ensure legal compliance and provide quality patient care.