1,000 nursing homes left without licences…….Jyoti Shelar
BMC penalises those who havent changed user status despite operating from residential premises
BMC penalises those who havent changed user status despite operating from residential premises
Licences of more than 1,000 nursing homes operating from residential premises have not been renewed as they failed to change their user status.
The civic body said change of user for nursing homes is mandatory as per the Supreme Court order,while nursing home authorities alleged they were informed about the rule only a few months ago.
Earlier,nursing homes in the city were refused licences for not having separate entrances and access staircase as per the SC norms.However,the rule was later amended after protests from doctors,who said it was impossible to fulfil the demands as most nursing homes were converted from residential houses,and were located in housing societies.
Dr Sudhir Naik,secretary,Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) said,More than 90 per cent of nursing homes are located in residential premises.Their user status is of residential user.The rule of changing the user status to nursing home was never told to us earlier.
Civic authorities said the change of user is mandatory as per the development control (DC) rules.For instance,when a residential premise is converted into a medical setup or an eatery,the user status has to be changed to that effect in the BMC records.Also,to get the user status changed,many other criteria like a separate drainage system and water supply have to be followed.
To this,Naik countered,Nursing homes will gradually apply for the change in user status but that will obviously take some time.They should at least renew the licences. Many nursing home owners claim they are suffering losses after news of licences not being renewed spread.In stricter terms,it can be said that such nursing homes are functioning illegally, Naik said,adding the affected doctors have met the BMC authorities and have been assured of co-operation.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said,The rule of user status is mandatory and licences of nursing homes with invalid user status were not renewed.However,the development is not affecting all nursing homes.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said,The rule of user status is mandatory and licences of nursing homes with invalid user status were not renewed.However,the development is not affecting all nursing homes.
* More than 90% of nursing homes in the city are located in residential premises