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State of West Bengal - Act

The West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act, 1950

WEST BENGAL
India

The West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act, 1950

Act 56 of 1950

Published on 23 November 1950
Commenced on 23 November 1950
[This is the version of this document from 23 November 1950.]
[Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]

The West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act, 1950West Bengal Act 56 of 1950[23rd November, 1950.]An Act to introduce a system of registration and licensing in respect of clinical establishments.Whereas it is expedient to introduce a system of registration and licensing in respect of clinical establishments;It is hereby enacted as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement. -

(1)This Act may be called the West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act, 1950.

(2)It extends to the whole of West Bengal.

(3)It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Definitions. -

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-

(a)[ "clinical establishment" means any nursing home, physical therapy establishment, clinical laboratory, hospital, dispensary (with bed), medical camp, medical clinic,] [Clause (a) substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.][or] [Word inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.] medical institution of analogous establishment,[ by whatever name called.] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

[Explanation. - "Medical clinic" shall mean a place where a registered medical practitioner treats a patient and is available for consultation and treatment;] ['Explanation' added by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(b)"clinical laboratory" means an establishment where-

(i)biological,[pathological,] [Word inserted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.] bacteriological, radiological, microscopic, chemical or other tests, examinations or analysis, or

(ii)the preparation of cultures, vaccines, serums or other biological or bacteriological products,

in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of diseases, are or is usually carried on;

(bb)[ "District Health Committee" means the District Health Committee constituted under section 5B;] [Clause (bb) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(c)"maternity home" means an establishment where women are usually [received or accommodated or both] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.] for the purpose of confinement and ante-natal and post-natal care in connection with child-birth [,and includes an establishment where women are received or accommodated for the purpose of sterilization or medical termination of pregnancy] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.];

(d)"nursing home" means an establishment where persons suffering from illness, injury or infirmity whether of body or mind are usually [ received or accommodated or both] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.] for the purpose of [observation] [Word inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.], nursing and treatment and includes a maternity home;

(e)[ "physical therapy establishment" means an establishment where massaging, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, remedial gymnastics or similar work is usually carried on, for the purpose of treatment of diseases or of infirmity or for improvement of health, or for the purpose of relaxation or for any other purpose whatsoever, whether or not analogous to the purposes hereinbefore mentioned in this clause;] [Clause (e) substituted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.]

(f)"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(g)"registered medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner registered under the Bengal Medical Act, 1914[or the West Bengal Homoeopathic System of Medicine Act, 1963, or the Paschim Banga Unani System of Medicine Act, 1979, or the West Bengal Acupuncture System of Therapy Act, 1996] [Words and figures inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.];

(h)"registered nurse" or "registered midwife" means a nurse or midwife registered under the Bengal Nurses Act, 1934.

3. Clinical establishment not to be kept or carried on without registration and license. -

No person shall keep or carry on a clinical establishment without being registered in respect thereof and except under and in accordance with the terms of a license granted therefor.

4. Application for registration and license. -

(1)Every application for registration in respect of any clinical establishment and for the grant of a license therefor shall [.subject to the provisions of section 5A,] [Words, figure and letter inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] be made to such authority (hereinafter referred to as the prescribed authority), shall contain such particulars and shall be accompanied by such fee [* * *] [Words first inserted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976. then omitted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.] as may be prescribed :[Provided that the State Government may, if it considers necessary so to do in the public interest, by order] [Proviso inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.][,subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified therein,] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.] exempt any clinical establishment from payment of any such fee [or reduce the amount of any such fee payable by any clinical establishment] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.].

(2)The prescribed authority, if satisfied that the applicant and the clinical establishment fulfil such conditions as may be prescribed, shall register the applicant in respect of such clinical establishment and shall grant him a license therefor and the registration and the license shall be valid for such period as may be prescribed.

(3)The prescribed authority may reject an application if he is satisfied-

(a)that the applicant or the clinical establishment does not fulfil the conditions prescribed under sub-section (2);

(b)that the real object of the applicant is to use or allow the clinical establishment to be used for immoral purposes;

(bb)[ that the clinical establishment does not have such minimum number of registered medical practitioners and registered nurses as may be prescribed;] [Clause (bb) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(c)in the case of a nursing home other than a maternity home that such nursing home is not or will not be under the charge of a registered medical practitioner resident therein [round the clock] [Words inserted by W..B. Act 30 of 1992.] and that the nursing of persons received and accommodated therein is not or will not be under the superintendence of a registered nurse resident therein [round the clock] [Words inserted by W..B. Act 30 of 1992.]; or

(d)in the case of a maternity home that such maternity home is not or will not be [under the charge of a registered medical practitioner resident therein] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.][round the clock] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] and that the attendance on every woman before, at, or after child-birth [or sterilization or medical termination of pregnancy] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] or on any child born is not or will not be under the superintendence of a registered midwife resident therein [round the clock] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.];

and shall in every case where the application is rejected record the grounds for rejection:[Provided that no application shall be rejected, unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of showing cause in support of his application.] [Proviso inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.]

(3A)[ No civil court shall have any jurisdiction to entertain any suit or other proceeding challenging the decision of the prescribed authority under sub-section (3).] [Sub-Section (3A) inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

(4)An appeal shall lie to such authority as may be specified in this behalf, against the rejection of an application under sub-section (3) and any order passed on such appeal shall be final and shall not be questioned in any Court.

(5)[ Every license granted under sub-section (2) shall be subject to the following terms and conditions, namely:-] [Sub-Section (5) substituted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.]

(a)that the clinical establishment shall not be used for immoral purposes;

(b)that adequate measures shall be taken to keep the clinical establishment in perfectly sanitary and hygienic condition;

(c)that every person keeping or carrying on a clinical establishment shall submit an immediate report to the prescribed authority as soon as it comes to his notice that any person who has been admitted as an outdoor or indoor patient in the clinical establishment is suffering from or has been attacked with tetanus, gas gangrene, small pox,[cholera, encephalitis, acquired immuno deficiency syndrome or any other infectious or dangerous disease] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] specified by the State Government in this behalf by notification published in the Official Gazette;

(cc)[ that every person keeping or carrying on a clinical establishment shall submit to the prescribed authority a monthly report about the number of cases of sterilization of male and female,] [Clause (cc) inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.][and the name of each of such male and female] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.], particulars of cases of medical termination of pregnancy and particulars of Mother and Child Health Care Programme, Immunisation Programme or any other like programme carried on by or in any such establishment;

(ccc)[ that every person keeping or carrying on a clinical establishment shall inform the police station, within the jurisdiction of which such clinical establishment is located, of every case of a victim of accident, injury, or trauma, admitted thereto for treatment;] [Clause (ccc) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(d)that for every clinical establishment records shall be kept in such form and report submitted to the prescribed authority in such form, in such manner and at such intervals, as may be prescribed, containing-

(i)the name and other particulars of each person who is received or accommodated at the clinical establishment as an outdoor or indoor patient;

(ii)the name of any of the prescribed diseases for which such person is treated;

(iii)the name and other particulars of the registered medical practitioner who attends him [,treats him, operates on him, or counsels him] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.];

(iv)the amount paid by each person towards costs of-

(a)boarding and lodging, if any, and

(b)treatment [and pathological or other investigation] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.];

(v)birth, death and miscarriage, if any, that takes place in the clinical establishment during the period to which the report [relates;] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(vi)[ the names of registered medical practitioners (including specialists) and the fees and other charges, if any, payable to each of them, which shall be displayed by every clinical establishment in such form as may be prescribed;] [Sub-clause (vi) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(dd)[ that the clinical establishment shall not refuse admission of any patient suffering from human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS);] [Clauses (dd) and (ddd) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(ddd)[ that the staffing pattern in respect of registered medical practitioners, registered nurses and registered midwives, and other persons shall be such as may be prescribed; and] [Clauses (dd) and (ddd) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(e)any other terms and conditions which may be prescribed.

[4A. Power of State Government to relax terms and conditions of license. - Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5) of section 4, the State Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax all or any of the terms and conditions to which every license granted under sub-section (2) of that section shall be subject.] [Section 4A inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

5. Cancellation of registration and license. -

[(1) If at any time after any person has been registered in respect of any clinical establishment and granted a license therefor, the prescribed authority is satisfied that the terms of the license are not being complied with, he may cancel such registration and license:] [Section 5 renumbered as sub-Section (1) of that Section and sub-Section (2) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.][Provided that no cancellation of any registration and license shall be] [Proviso inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.][within fifteen days from the date of receipt of a notice in this behalf] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] as to why such registration and license should not be cancelled.

(2)[ An appeal against an order of cancellation of any registration and license under sub-section (1) may by preferred to the Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Department of Health and Family Welfare (hereinafter referred to as the appellate authority), within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of the order as aforesaid (hereinafter referred to as the said period):] [Section 5 renumbered as sub-Section (1) of that Section and sub-Section (2) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]Provided that the appellate authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, admit such appeal within a further period of sixty days from the date immediately after the date of expiry of the said period.

5A. [ Classification of clinical establishments. - [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

The State Government may, on a consideration of the number of beds available in, and the amenities like air-conditioning and similar other amenities and the services in the form of medicines, facilities for electrocardiogram, sonoscanning, X-rays and similar other facilities provided by, clinical establishments, classify them into such categories and in such manner as may be prescribed.]

5B. [ State level and District level committees. - [sections 5A and 5B inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

The State Government may constitute, in such manner as may be prescribed, a State Level Committee for the State of West Bengal and a District Level Committee for each district of West Bengal for the purpose of advice to the State Government on the implementation of the provisions of this Act][,or a District Health Committee for each district of West Bengal for performing such functions as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.].Explanation. - For the purposes of this section, the area of Calcutta as defined in clause (9) of section 2 of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980, shall constitute a district of West Bengal.

6. [ Power of entry, inspection, etc. - [Section 6 substituted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.]

(1)Subject to][such rules as may be made under this Act,] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] any officer of the State Government authorised by the State Government in this behalf, may,-

(a)enter, at any time by night or by day, with or without notice, any place or establishment which he has reason to believe is being issued as a clinical establishment;

(b)make such examination of the place or establishment and inspect any equipments, articles or documents found therein and seize and take out therefrom any such equipments, articles or documents, as he deems necessary for the purpose of examination, analysis, investigation or evidence and retain them as long as he thinks it necessary to do so for such purpose;

(c)make such inquiries, and put such questions to any person found in such place or establishment, as he deems necessary in order to ascertain whether the place or the establishment is being used as a clinical establishment or not.

(d)[ enter any clinical establishment and, with the assistance of a police-officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, seize any document, equipment or other materials which such establishment is not authorised to keep or maintain under any law for the time being in force, in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.] [Clause (d) inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

(2)No person shall obstruct an officer authorised under sub-section (1) in the exercise of any power conferred by that sub-section or make any false or reckless statement in answer to a question put by such officer in exercise of the power conferred on him under clause (c) of that sub-section.

(3)[ Every officer authorised under sub-section (1) shall submit a report to the concerned prescribed authority within seven days of completion of any inspection by him under that sub-section.] [Sub-Section (3) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

7. Offences and penalties. -

(1)Any person-

(a)who contravenes the provisions of section 3, or

(b)who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 6, or

(c)being the holder of a license granted under this Act in respect of any clinical establishment, uses or allows such establishment to be used for [immoral purposes in contravention of the terms and conditions referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (5) of section 4,] [Words, figures, letter and brackets substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

shall be guilty of an offence and shall-

(i)on conviction for a first offence be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [three years or with fine which may extend to] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.][ten thousand rupees] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.] or with both, and

(ii)on conviction for a second or subsequent offence be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [seven years] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.][and with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees,] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

and shall in addition be liable to a fine which may extend to [five thousand rupees per diem] [Words first substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992, then again substituted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.] for which the offence continues after conviction.

(2)Where a person committing an offence under this Act is a company or an association or a body of persons, whether incorporated or not, every director, manager, secretary or other officer concerned with the management thereof shall, unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised due diligence to prevent its commission, be deemed to be guilty of such offence.

(3)[ Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) and sub-section (2), any person who contravenes any of the terms and conditions referred to in subsection (5) of section 4 shall, notwithstanding any cancellation of registration and license under section 5, be guilty of an offence and shall-] [Sub-sections (3) and (4) inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

(a)on conviction for a first offence be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months [and with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.], and

(b)on conviction for a second or subsequent offence be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.

(4)[ Any person who contravenes any provision of any rules made under this Act shall be guilty of an offence not provided for in this Act and shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.] [Sub-sections (3) and (4) inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

7A. [ Penalty for serving in an unlicensed and unregistered clinical establishment. - [Section 7A inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.]

Any person who knowingly serves in a clinical establishment which is not duly registered and licensed under this Act or which is used for immoral purposes shall be guilty of an offence and][shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

7B. [ Offences under sections 7 and 7A to be cognizable] [Section 7B inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.][and non-bailable] [Words inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]. -

All offences under sections 7 and 7A shall be cognizable [and all offences under sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of sections 7 and 7A shall be non-bailable] [Words, figures, letter and brackets inserted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.].

8. Savings. -

(1)For a period of six months from the commencement of this Act, the provisions of section 3, section 5, section 6, and section 7 shall not apply to any clinical establishment in existence on the date of such commencement.

(2)Nothing in this Act shall apply in respect of-

(a)any clinical establishment maintained by or under the control of [the State Government or the Central Government] [Words substituted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.] or any local authority; or

(b)any asylum established or licensed under the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912; or

(c)any leper asylum appointed, established or maintained under the Lepers Act, 1898; or

[* * * * * * * *] [Clause (d) omitted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(e)any hairdressers shop or saloon where scalp or face-massage or manicure treatment is administered to female customers only or is administered in full view of all the customers resorting there; [or] [Word inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.]

[* * * * * * * *] [Clause (f) first inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954, then omitted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.][******************] [Clause (g) first inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954. thereafter, omitted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

(3)With effect from the date of coming into force of the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Amendment) Act, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as the said date), all the provisions of this Act shall apply to-] [Sub-Section (3) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(a)every hospital,

(b)every dispensary (with bed), and

(c)every other medical institution,

specially exempted by the State Government, if any, under any provision of this Act in force immediately before the said date, and, thereupon, every such hospital, dispensary (with bed) or other medical institution, as the case may be, shall apply for registration and license under the provisions of this Act within such time as the State Government may, by notification published in the Official Gazette, specify.[8A Indemnity. - [Section 8A inserted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954.]

(1)No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings whatsoever shall lie against any person in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.]

(2)No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against Government for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

9. Power to make rules. -

(1)The State Government may make rules for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(2)In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters:-

(a)the authority to whom an application under sub-section (1) of section 4 shall be made, the particulars which such application shall contain and the fee with which such application shall be accompanied ;

(b)the conditions which an applicant and a clinical establishment shall fulfil under sub-section (2) of section 4;

(c)the period for which registration and license under sub-section (2) of section 4 shall be valid;

(d)the period of limitation for an appeal under sub-section (4) of section 4 and procedure on such appeals ;

(e)[ the form in which records shall be kept and the form and manner in which and the intervals at which reports shall be submitted to the prescribed authority under clause (d) of sub-section (5) of section 4;] [Clauses (e) and (ea) substituted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.]

(ea)[ other terms and conditions which may be prescribed under clause (e) of sub-section (5) of section 4;] [Clauses (e) and (ea) substituted by West Bengal Act 24 of 1976.]

(eb)[ the form in which the names of registered medical practitioners (including specialists) and the fees and other charges payable to each of them shall be displayed under sub-clause (vi) of clause (d) of sub-section (5) of section 4;] [Clauses (eb) and (ec) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

(ec)the staffing pattern in respect of registered medical practitioners, registered nurses and registered midwives, and other persons under clause (ddd) of sub-section (5) of section 4;] [Clauses (eb) and (ec) inserted by West Bengal Act 19 of 1998.]

[*******************] [Clause (f) first substituted by West Bengal Act 12 of 1954, them omitted by West Bengal Act 30 of 1992.]

(g)any other matter required to be prescribed by rules.

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State of West Bengal - Act