The Government of Telangana re-constituted the State Council for Clinical Facilities under the Clinical Facilities (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 to strengthen regulation, accountability and quality standards in the healthcare sector. The reconstitution was announced through a Government Order (GO) issued by Health Minister Christina Z. Chongthu on October 27.
The Council will be responsible for compiling and updating the State Registers of Clinical Facilities, sending monthly reports to the National Register, representing the State in the National Council, hearing appeals and publishing annual reports on the implementation of standards. It will also monitor compliance with the law, recommend necessary adjustments to the government in accordance with technological or social changes, and perform functions set by the National Council for Clinical Facilities.
The Council, chaired by the Minister of Health, includes representatives from various health sectors. The members include officials from the Directorate of Medical Education, Public Health and AYUSH, representatives of the Telangana Medical Council, Dental Council and Pharmacy Council, representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana Branch and also consumer rights representatives from civil society organizations. Each member nominated and elected shall hold office for a term of three years.
The Health Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) welcomed the move and said the decision was a major step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector. However, in expressing its support, HRDA called for more practical regulations that take into account the operational reality of small and medium-sized hospitals.
Dr. Bandari Rajkumar, secretary, Telangana Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (THANA), Karimnagar branch, said it was unfair to impose the same stringent norms as for 200-bed corporate hospitals on 10-bed rural hospitals. “The CEA monitoring system should be encouraging, not punitive. Doctors are committed to ethical medical practices, but regulations should also be practical,” he said.
HRDA urged the Council to exempt hospitals and clinics with fewer than 50 beds from the law, saying excessive regulation could threaten the survival of small facilities and disrupt emergency health care in rural and semi-urban areas.
Among the amendments proposed by the HRDA were four: exempting hospitals with less than 20 beds from the purview of the CEA, simplifying the online registration and renewal process at the district level, introducing a single-window clearance system integrating fire safety, biomedical waste and municipal permits, and including private doctors and local medical associations in the Council’s decision-making process.
Published – 05 Nov 2025 20:38 IST
