Rogi Kalyan Samiti | Hospital Managment Society | National Health Mission | UPSC

Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Patient Welfare Committee) / Hospital Management Society (RKS/HMS) is a simple yet effective management structure.

This committee, which would be a registered society (NGO), acts as a group of trustees for the hospitals to manage the affairs of the hospital.

It consists of members from local Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), NGOs, local elected representatives and officials from Government sector who are responsible for proper functioning and management of the hospital / Community Health Centre / FRUs.

RKS / HMS would be a registered society set up in all District Hospitals / Sub District Hospitals / CHCs / FRUs. It may consist of the following members:-

• Peoples representatives MLA / MP
• Health officials (including an Ayush doctor)
• Local district officials
• Leading members of the community
• Local CHC/ FRU in-charge
• Representatives of the Indian Medical Association
• Members of the local bodies and Panchayati Raj representative
• Leading donors

RKS / HMS is free to prescribe, generate and use the funds with it as per its best judgement for smooth functioning and maintaining the quality of services.

The RKS/HMS will not function as a Government agency, but as an NGO as far as functioning is concerned. It may utilize all Government assets and services to impose user charges and shall be free to determine the quantum of charges on the basis of local circumstances.

It may also raise funds additionally through donations, loans from financial institutions, grants from government as well as other donor agencies. Moreover, funds received by the RKS / HMS will not be deposited in the State exchequer but will be available to be spent by the Executive Committee constituted by the RKS/HMS.

Private organizations offering high tech services like pathology, MRI, CAT SCAN, Sonography etc. could be permitted to set up their units within the hospital premises in return for providing their services at a rate fixed by the RKS/ HMS

The following are the broad objectives of the HMS :

• Ensure compliance to minimal standard for facility and hospital care and protocols of treatment as issued by the Government.
• Ensure accountability of the public health providers to the community;
• Introduce transparency with regard to management of funds;
• Upgrade and modernize the health services provided by the hospital and any associated outreach services;
• Supervise the implementation of National Health Programmes at the hospital and other health institutions that may be placed under its administrative jurisdiction;
• Organize outreach services / health camps at facilities under the jurisdiction of the hospital;
• Display a Citizens Charter in the Health facility and ensure its compliance through operationalisation of a Grievance Redressal Mechanism;
• Generate resources locally through donations, user fees and other means;
• Establish affiliations with private institutions to upgrade services;
• Undertake construction and expansion in the hospital building;
• Ensure optimal use of hospital land as per govt. guidelines;
• Improve participation of the Society in the running of the hospital;
• Ensure scientific disposal of hospital waste;
• Ensure proper training for doctors and staff;
• Ensure subsidized food, medicines and drinking water and cleanliness to the patients and their attendants;
• Ensure proper use, timely maintenance and repair of hospital building equipment and machinery

Functions and activities

To achieve the objectives, the Society undertakes the following activities/initiatives :

• Identifying the problems faced by the patients in CHC/PHC;
• Acquiring equipment, furniture, ambulance (through purchase, donation, rental or any other means, including loans from banks) for the hospital;
• Expanding the hospital building, in consultation with and subject to any Guidelines that may be laid down by the State Government;
• Making arrangements for the maintenance of hospital building (including residential buildings), vehicles and equipment available with the hospital;
• Improving boarding / lodging arrangements for the patients and their attendants;
• Entering into partnership arrangement with the private sector (including individuals) for the improvement of support services such as cleaning services, laundry services, diagnostic facilities and ambulatory services etc.;
• Developing / leasing out vacant land in the premises of the hospital for commercial purposes with a view to improve financial position of the Society;
• Encouraging community participation in the maintenance and upkeep of the hospital;
• Promoting measures for resource conservation through adoption of wards by institutions or individuals; and,
• Adopting sustainable and environmental friendly measures for the day-to-day management of the hospital, e.g. scientific hospital waste disposal system, solar lighting systems, solar refrigeration systems, water harvesting and water recharging systems etc.