Siliguri, Jan. 3: Nursing homes in the Darjeeling district have been directed by the Bengal government to set up complaint cells immediately.

The district has nearly 40 nursing homes.

“We have instructed every nursing home to open a cell, like the public redressal section we have in government hospitals, to address problems associated with treatment of patients,” said Subir Bhowmik, the chief medical officer of health (CMOH), Darjeeling, today.

From now on, the nursing homes will have to accept the complaints from patients or their relatives and make efforts to settle the disputes. “If the complainants are not satisfied with the initiatives, they are free to approach the district health administration. Considering the nature of the grievance, we can take up the case or else guide the patients,” Bhowmik said.

Darjeeling district leaders of the Intuc claimed that the government move is a fallout of their demand. They had written to Bhowmik on November 30 seeking his intervention in a case of misbehaviour and harassment by a doctor of a nursing home.

“We had specifically described to the CMOH the plight of patients in nursing homes,” said Aloke Chakravorty, the district president of the party. “In many cases, nursing home authorities refuse to release bodies after death if the dues are not totally cleared. There are instances where the treatments of patients are lingered to earn more money. Sometimes, the patients are overcharged and their relatives are not briefed properly about the condition.”

The letter, Chakravorty claimed, led the CMOH to issue the circular on December 12.

Today, the CMOH said in case of complaints related to bills, the health department cannot do much. But if the grievances relate to technical and medical issues, they can help the aggrieved patients or their relatives.

Bhowmik refused to give entire credit to the Intuc for the move but acknowledged the receipt of Chakravorty’s letter.

The first-of-its-kind decision in the district will add to the infrastructure of the private health clinics as not a single nursing home of Darjeeling had any such cell before. The move has been welcomed by representatives of nursing home owners.

“The decision is laudable and we welcome it,” P. Roy, the secretary of Siliguri Nursing Home Owners’ Association, said over phone from Vellore. “Our members must have received the letter and we are ready to comply with the rule.”