Hyderabad DMHO orders private hospitals to share patient data
HYDERABAD: Private hospitals in Hyderabad must mandatorily submit complete details of patients treated at their facilities to the government, District Medical and Health Officer Dr Venkat said on Wednesday.
Hospitals have been directed to report patient information from admission to discharge, including diagnostic tests and treatment details. Orders to this effect have been issued by the Hyderabad DMHO.
Monthly reporting made compulsory
Dr Venkat said hospitals must submit monthly reports covering all medical services provided. These reports should be sent to the medical officer of the respective Urban Primary Health Centre under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls.
Under the State Public Health Act, 1939, and the Municipalities Act, 1965, hospitals are required to immediately report confirmed cases of dengue, malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis to the concerned government departments. The directive also covers chikungunya, cholera, hepatitis, rabies and snakebite cases.
Details of non-communicable diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke must also be reported. Hospitals have been asked to share laboratory reports, scanning details, childbirth data and information related to newborns.
Data key to disease control
More than half of Hyderabad’s population seeks treatment at private hospitals. However, several hospitals are not sharing patient data with government authorities, officials said.
For instance, if dengue cases are reported from a specific area, civic staff can carry out fogging and mosquito control measures only if hospitals promptly share the data. Failure to report cases is delaying disease prevention efforts and allowing infections to spread rapidly, the DMHO noted.
Officials said the lack of accurate data is also affecting budget allocation and the supply of medicines. “If hospitals withhold data, action will be taken under the Public Health Act,” Dr Venkat said.
Legal action for violations
Accurate statistics play a crucial role in disease prevention, officials said, as they help identify health trends and plan targeted interventions. Under the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010, all healthcare providers are required to comply with reporting norms.
“Legal action will be initiated against institutions that violate the rules,” Dr Venkat added.
