Under the National Health Mission (NHM), technical and financial support is
provided to states, UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems, based on the requirements posed by the states, UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans.
The National Health Mission offers flexibility to the states to provide healthcare services under Public
Private Partnership (PPP) mode depending upon its requirements.
This includes support for provision of healthcare services through PPP mode for projects such as Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, free diagnostic service for high end low volume tests like teleradiology services & CT scan services, ambulance services, biomedical equipment management maintenance programme, national quality assurance programme and other ancillary services duly sharing the suggested guidelines with them, official sources here said.
States may contract in or outsource those services which improve efficiency and quality of care in public health facilities or close the existing critical gaps. The areas of overall supervision and monitoring of these PPP arrangements, including identification of services, private partner, terms of engagement, payment, lie within the jurisdiction of the respective state government.
Further under Revised National TB Control Programme, there is a provision of engagement of NGOs/private providers for expanding free diagnosis or treatment services under the National Guidelines on Partnerships.
The Union Government has enacted Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 and notified the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 for registration and regulation of clinical establishments including private healthcare establishments, they said.
The Act provides for registration and regulation of the clinical establishments providing both therapeutic and/or diagnostic services belonging to all recognised systems of medicine from both Government and private sector (except those of Armed Forces) with a view to prescribe minimum standards of facilities and services as may be provided by them, the sources added.
In accordance with the aforesaid rules, the States/Union Territories where the said Act is in force, the clinical establishments are inter-alia required to follow Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) issued by the Centre, state governments, display the rates charged for each type of services provided and facilities available, at a conspicuous place and charge rate for each type of procedure and service within the range of rates determined from time to time in consultation with the state governments.