What are the requirements for a hospital to be approved by the Chief Commissioner?
As per Section 17 of the IT Act, any amount reimbursed by the employer for treatment of specified diseases ranging from cancer to mental disorder and drug addiction in hospitals approved by the Chief Commissioner is not included in the value of perquisites for computing income. In approving these hospitals, the Chief Commissioner shall satisfy himself that
(i) The building used for the hospital complies with the municipal bye-laws in force.
(ii) The rooms are well ventilated, lighted and are kept in clean and hygienic conditions.
(iii) At least ten iron spring beds are provided for patients.
(iv) At least one properly equipped operation theatre is provided, with minimum floor space of 180 square feet and with a separate sterilisation room.
(v) At least one labour room is provided, with minimum floor space of 180 square feet, in case the hospital provides medical service for maternity cases.
(vi) Aseptic conditions are maintained in the operation theatre and the labour room.
(vii) A duty room is provided for the nursing staff on duty.
(viii) Adequate space for storage of medicines, food articles, equipments, etc., is provided.
(ix) The water used in the hospital or nursing home is fit for drinking.
(x) Adequate arrangements are made for isolating septic and infectious patients.
(xi) The hospital is provided with and maintains :-
(a) high pressure sterilizer and instrument sterilizer;
(b) oxygen cylinders and necessary attachments for giving oxygen;
(c) adequate surgical equipments, instruments and apparatus including intravenous apparatus;
(d) a pathological laboratory for testing of blood, urine and stool;
(e) electro-cardiogram monitoring system;
(f) stand-by generator for use in case of power failure.
(xii) There is at least one qualified doctor available on duty round the clock for every twenty beds or fraction thereof.
(xiii) In hospitals providing intensive care unit facilities, there are at least two qualified doctors available on duty round the clock exclusively for such intensive care unit.
(xiv) One nurse is on duty round the clock for every five beds or a fraction thereof.
(xv) In hospitals providing intensive care unit facilities, there are at least four nurses provided exclusively for every four beds or fraction thereof for such intensive care unit.
(xvi) The hospital maintains record of health of every patient containing information about the patient's name, address, occupation, sex, age, date of admission, date of discharge, diagnosis of disease and treatment undertaken.
Will an Ayurvedic or Homeopathic hospital have all these facilities? The Government has realised that they will not and so Rule 3A of the IT rules are amended to make these requirements applicable only to hospitals other than hospitals for Indian system of medicine and homoeopathic treatment. Then what about UNANI? May be it will take some more time for the Government to recognize Unani system of medicine.
NOTIFICATION NO , Dated : December 7, 2004