In a major step to protect patients\u2019 rights and ensure ethical medical practices, the Assam Cabinet has approved a Draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Regulatory Guidelines to prevent coercive actions by private nursing homes and hospitals across the state.<\/p>\n
The move comes in response to increasing public outrage over unethical billing practices and incidents where hospitals have allegedly withheld dead bodies due to unpaid dues.<\/p>\n
Mandatory Release of Bodies Within Two Hours<\/strong> Any delay beyond this two-hour window may attract penal consequences, and such incidents must be reported to both the local police and the district health authority within four hours.<\/p>\n 24×7 Complaint Helpline Activated<\/strong> Strict Penalties for Violations<\/strong> Government Issues Stern Warning<\/strong> The decision signals the government\u2019s firm resolve to uphold patient dignity and end exploitative practices in the healthcare system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a major step to protect patients\u2019 rights and ensure ethical medical practices, the Assam Cabinet has approved a Draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Regulatory Guidelines to prevent coercive…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assam"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nOne of the key provisions in the newly approved SOP mandates that hospitals must release a deceased patient\u2019s body within two hours of issuing the death certificate\u2014regardless of any pending payments.<\/p>\n
\nTo assist aggrieved families, the government has activated a 24\/7 toll-free helpline (104) for lodging complaints against hospitals that engage in coercive practices. Upon receiving a complaint, the assigned official must visit the site immediately, ensure that the body is released without delay, and begin legal action against the institution involved.<\/p>\n
\nPrivate hospitals and nursing homes found guilty of violating the SOP will face strict punitive measures, including:<\/p>\n\n
\nHealth officials have issued a strong warning to all private medical establishments in Assam, urging strict compliance with the new SOP. Authorities emphasized that any violation will be met with zero tolerance and swift action.<\/p>\n