New Delhi, June 25: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified amendments to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, replacing criminal penalties for procedural lapses with an administrative enforcement mechanism, an official said. The notification, issued on June 22, implements recommendations from a high-level committee and is intended to reduce compliance burden while maintaining patient safety and service quality nationwide.
The changes follow the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 — published in the Official Gazette on April 8, 2026 — which rationalises provisions across 79 central Acts administered by 23 ministries and departments. In the health sector specifically, the ministry amended 35 provisions across five Acts to decriminalise minor procedural non-compliances and strengthen citizen-centric regulation, the statement said.
Under the amended Clinical Establishments Act, the word “fine” in Sections 40, 43 and 46 has been replaced by “penalty,” shifting enforcement from criminal prosecution to administrative adjudication. Administrative adjudication means that regulatory breaches will be handled through administrative processes and penalties rather than through criminal courts, the ministry explained.
Section 44 now provides for graded and proportionate penalties for companies, ensuring that sanctions match the nature and severity of violations. The adjudicating authority under Section 41 has been strengthened and its remit expanded to cover proceedings under Sections 40, 43 and 44, aimed at making enforcement more transparent, efficient and accountable.
The amendments also establish a structured adjudication process with a right to be heard before penalties are imposed, mechanisms for penalty recovery and an appeal framework for aggrieved parties. “By replacing criminal penalties for procedural lapses with a fair and balanced administrative mechanism, the reforms seek to improve the ease of doing business in the healthcare sector while preserving the highest standards of patient care, safety and accountability,” the statement said.
Officials said the measures are expected to encourage voluntary compliance, reduce unnecessary litigation and ensure proportionate action for minor procedural lapses, while retaining regulatory oversight of clinical establishments. IANS
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/06/25/health-ministry-notifies-relaxed-norms-for-regulation-of-hospitals-clinics/
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Publish Date: 2026-06-25 18:03:00
