The Health Facilities Licensing Bill which was scheduled for a second reading in the National Assembly yesterday was referred to a select committee instead in the wake of deep concerns by health care professionals.

On Wednesday health care professional rejected the bill while referring to it as “poor legislation” and called for meaningful consultations before any proposed legislation is made in the future.

Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had on Wednesday issued a statement saying that the bill is not seeking to regulate practices within the offices of private doctors. He emphasised that the bill is intended to strengthen regulation of public and private hospitals, laboratories, dialysis centres, imaging centres (MRI and CT Scan), surgical clinics and cancer treatment centres that provide radiotherapy.

The Health Facilities Licensing Bill of 2006 was tabled in the National Assembly on December 21, last year, and it is to apply to health facilities as well as health services, places or persons.