The city branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has needed state government’s involvement after civic health officers persisted that they would not grant renewal to 150 small and medium size hospitals in Pune.

Health officials of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have told these hospitals to get their nurses registered with the council, failing which they will not be granted renewal, the deadline for which is March 31.

Experts associated with the IMA, however, said that registration with the state nursing council is mandatory only for qualified nurses and not for the trained staff.

“We have requested state health minister Deepak Sawant to intervene as there has been no breakthrough in this matter. These hospitals will run into trouble or even face closure if they fail to get renewal by March 31. The minister has assured to address the issue at the earliest,” said eye surgeon Sanjay Patil, chairman of IMA’s Hospital Board of India (HBI), Pune branch.

“If these hospitals do not get renewed licences, they will face severe problems. PMC might not issue birth certificate to newborn delivered at such hospital. Moreover, if a medico-legal case arises, the doctor can be charged for working in an illegal establishment,” said gynaecologist Avinash Bhutkar, adviser, HBI, IMA Pune.

Currently, hospitals have to abide by the norms laid down by the Bombay Nursing Home Registration Act. The Clinical Establishment Act is yet to be scheduled in the assembly.

Even if the Act is passed in the next session, it provides a three-year period to implement the guidelines, say experts.

Vaishali Jadhav, assistant medical officer of health (AMoH), PMC said, “IMA’s office-bearers have met with us regarding the nurse registration issue. We have sought guidance from the state government on the matter.”