Welcome Doctors!
Starting your own hospital is a fulfilling and rewarding venture. If you’re a doctor looking to establish an AYUSH hospital with 11-30 beds, this guide will help you understand the basic requirements and the steps needed to make your hospital a successful and compliant healthcare facility.
Let’s walk through the necessary components and standards you must follow.
Scope of Services
In your AYUSH hospital, you can offer various treatments based on the system of medicine you practice. Here’s a glimpse of what you can offer:
- Ayurveda: Panchkarma, Marma Therapy, Kshar Sutra, Agni Karma, etc.
- Unani: Ilaj Bit Tadbeer, etc.
- Siddha: Varmam, Pura Maruthuvamin, etc.
- Sowa Rigpa: Las-Na, etc.
- Yoga & Naturopathy: Nauli, Dhauti, Neti, Mud Therapy, etc.
This diversity in services will allow you to cater to a wide range of patients who seek traditional and holistic treatments.
Infrastructure Requirements
For smooth operations, here are the essential infrastructure requirements for your AYUSH hospital:
- Signage: It’s important to display a clear signboard with the hospital’s name and necessary information, along with directional signage to guide patients to the right departments.
- Informative Displays: Make sure to display the following information clearly at the hospital entrance:
- The name of the doctor and their qualifications.
- The registration number of the doctor and the hospital.
- Fees for various treatments (OPD, IPD, and daily charges).
- Timings of your hospital and available facilities.
- The name of the doctor and their qualifications.
- Clean Environment: Your hospital must have clean, hygienic areas, including accessible toilets (separate for males and females) and a constant supply of safe drinking water. You should also have 24-hour electricity backup for uninterrupted patient care.
- Space Planning: The space required for different departments is essential for smooth operations. For example:
- OPD Rooms: 100 sq. ft. per room.
- IPD Beds: 50 sq. ft. per bed.
- Minor OT/Procedure Room: 150 sq. ft.
- Labor Room (if applicable): 150 sq. ft.
- Neonatal Care Room (if applicable): 150 sq. ft.
- Operation Theater: 263.71 sq. ft. per OT.
- OPD Rooms: 100 sq. ft. per room.
These are just the minimum guidelines, and you can adjust based on the services you intend to offer.
Medical Equipment and Instruments
To provide effective treatment, you will need the right medical equipment. This includes:
- Basic Equipment: Depending on the services you offer, make sure you have the necessary instruments for diagnosis and treatment.
- Maintenance: All equipment should be regularly maintained and cleaned to ensure proper functioning.
For example, essential equipment may include stethoscopes, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, and basic diagnostic tools for your services.
Drugs and Consumables
Your hospital will need to store and provide medicines and consumables that are essential for treatment. These should be stored in a safe, clean, and regulated manner. Some key points to remember:
- Storage: Drugs and consumables should be stored in a clean and secure area.
- Emergency Medications: Make sure emergency medications are available at all times.
Inventory Management: Keep track of medicine inventory and ensure they are dispensed following medical guidelines.
Human Resources (Staffing)
As a hospital owner, it’s essential to hire qualified and trained medical and support staff.
The human resource requirement for any clinical establishment depends on the scope of services you provide, the bed strength of your hospital, and the overall workload.
For an AYUSH Hospital with 11-30 beds, the minimum staffing requirements are as follows:
- Doctors:
- You need at least two registered practitioners in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, or Homoeopathy.
- For Yoga & Naturopathy practitioners, they must be duly certified as per the relevant statute of your State or Union Territory.
- The doctor should be available round the clock on-site to ensure proper patient care.
- You need at least two registered practitioners in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, or Homoeopathy.
- Nurses:
- At least three registered nurses are required (one for every 10 beds).
- Nurses are crucial in providing day-to-day care and managing patient comfort and safety.
- At least three registered nurses are required (one for every 10 beds).
- Therapists:
- You will need one male and one female therapist (as applicable).
- Therapists play an essential role in providing hands-on treatments, such as Panchkarma, Unani therapies, or other traditional treatments based on the AYUSH system.
- You will need one male and one female therapist (as applicable).
- Pharmacists:
- You need two pharmacists if you plan to have an in-house pharmacy in your hospital.
- The pharmacists will be responsible for ensuring the correct dispensation of medicines and maintaining the inventory.
- You need two pharmacists if you plan to have an in-house pharmacy in your hospital.
- Attendant / Multipurpose Worker:
- Three attendants/multipurpose workers are required.
- These workers will assist with patient care, hospital cleanliness, and general support tasks to ensure smooth hospital operations.
- Three attendants/multipurpose workers are required.
Additional Support and Administrative Staff:
- Depending on the scope of services you provide, the number of additional support and administrative staff may vary. This could include administrative staff, housekeeping, and maintenance personnel.
It’s important to keep in mind that staffing requirements may vary depending on the size, services offered, and workload of your hospital. Make sure to recruit qualified personnel and comply with local regulations for healthcare staffing.
Support Services
Apart from medical treatment, several support services must be in place:
- Registration or Help Desk: This will assist patients with information on hospital services, fees, and procedures.
- Diagnostic Services: You can either have an in-house lab or outsource diagnostics based on patient needs.
- Pharmacy: Ensure you have a functioning pharmacy that complies with legal regulations.
- Sterilization: A sterilization area is crucial to maintain hygiene and prevent infections.
- Waste Management: Proper waste disposal, including biomedical waste, must be managed as per local laws.
- Ambulance Services: If required, you should have an ambulance for patient transport.
Legal and Statutory Requirements for AYUSH Hospital With 11-30 Beds
To ensure that your AYUSH hospital operates legally and in compliance with local and state regulations, it is essential to obtain various licenses, registrations, and approvals.
Below is a comprehensive list of legal and statutory requirements you must comply with. Please note that some of these may not be applicable to every hospital, depending on the services you offer and the specific regulations of your region:
- Registration under Nursing Home or Medical Establishment Act: You must register your hospital under the local or state Nursing Home or Medical Establishment Act.
- Bio-Medical Waste Management License: You will need authorization from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) for managing bio-medical waste. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the vendor for waste disposal is also required.
- AERB Licenses: If your hospital uses any medical equipment like CT scanners, you will need licenses from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). This includes type approval, layout approval, and licenses for CT-interventional machines or other specific equipment.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Fire Department: A No Objection Certificate from the local Fire Department is required to ensure that your hospital complies with fire safety norms.
- Ambulance Licenses: If you have an ambulance service, you must ensure it has a Commercial Vehicle Permit and that the drivers possess the appropriate Commercial Driver Licenses. You will also need pollution control licenses for the ambulance.
- Building Completion Licenses: A building completion license is necessary to confirm that the construction of your hospital meets the required health and safety standards.
- Lift Licenses for Each Lift: If your hospital has lifts, each lift must have a valid lift license.
- DG Set Approval for Commissioning: If you plan to use a Diesel Generator (DG) set, you must obtain approval for commissioning.
- Diesel Storage Licenses: If your hospital stores diesel for the DG set or other purposes, a diesel storage license is required.
- Food Safety Licenses: If your hospital provides food to patients or visitors, it must comply with food safety regulations and obtain the necessary food safety licenses.
- Narcotic Drug Licenses: If your hospital handles narcotic drugs for patient care, you must obtain the required narcotic drug licenses.
- Medical Gases Licenses or Explosives Act Compliance: If your hospital uses medical gases, you need the appropriate licenses. Compliance with the Explosives Act is also mandatory if applicable.
- Clinical Establishments Registration: You must register your hospital under the Clinical Establishments Act as per the local or state guidelines.
- Blood Bank Licenses: If your hospital has a blood bank, you will need the necessary blood bank licenses.
- MoU or Agreement with Outsourced Human Resource Agencies: If you outsource any of your hospital staff, such as housekeeping, security, or others, an MoU or agreement with the agencies must be in place, adhering to labor laws.
- Spirit Licenses: If your hospital uses spirit (alcohol) for medical purposes, a spirit license is required.
- Electricity Rules Compliance: Your hospital must comply with local electricity rules to ensure that power supply systems are safe and legal.
- Provident Fund (PF) or Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act: If your hospital has employees, it must comply with the Provident Fund or ESI Act by making contributions for the welfare of your staff.
- MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) Act: If your hospital provides services related to medical termination of pregnancy, compliance with the MTP Act is required.
- PNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act: The PNDT Act regulates the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques and ensures that your hospital complies with its provisions.
- Transplantation of Human Organs Act: If your hospital performs organ transplants, it must be registered under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act.
- Sales Tax Registration: You must obtain a sales tax registration if your hospital provides taxable goods or services.
- Permanent Account Number (PAN): A PAN is required for the tax identification of your hospital.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) under Pollution Control Act: You must obtain an NOC under the Pollution Control Act (for air and water pollution) to ensure your hospital meets environmental standards.
- Wireless Operation Certificate from Indian P&T: If your hospital uses wireless communication systems, you must obtain a certificate from the Indian Post and Telegraph (P&T) Department.
- Arms Act, 1950: If your hospital employs armed guards, you must comply with the Arms Act, 1950, to ensure proper licensing of weapons.
Medical Record Keeping and Reporting
It’s essential to maintain proper medical records for every patient treated in your hospital. These records should include:
- Personal Information: Patient’s name, age, gender, and contact details.
- Medical History: Diagnosis, treatment plans, and any surgical procedures.
- Inpatient Details: Daily observations, prescribed medications, and discharge details.
Make sure these records are maintained securely, either digitally or in physical form, and comply with national laws for patient privacy and data protection.
Day-to-Day Processes and Patient Care
As part of your hospital’s daily operations, here are some processes to follow:
- Patient Registration: On arrival, each patient should be registered at the help desk, where you will collect necessary details, including ABHA numbers (if applicable).
- Diagnosis and Treatment Plans: After registration, patients should be assessed and treated according to standard treatment guidelines, and care should be tailored to their needs.
- Informed Consent: Before any surgical or invasive procedure, always obtain informed consent from the patient.
- Discharge Planning: When a patient is ready for discharge, provide a discharge summary outlining the treatment, care received, and any follow-up instructions.
Wrapping it Up
Opening an AYUSH hospital with 11-30 beds is an exciting step in providing traditional and holistic healthcare to the community.
By adhering to the standards and guidelines mentioned above, you can ensure that your hospital not only meets legal requirements but also provides high-quality care to your patients.
With the right infrastructure, equipment, staff, and processes in place, you’ll be well on your way to running a successful and respected healthcare facility.
We wish you all the best in your journey to establish a health center that brings wellness and healing to many!
