Rule 117. Group Hospitals

(1) In order to provide in – patient treatments which are not available in the Garden Hospital the planters should join together through trust or other institutional device and provide joint Group Hospital sharing the expenses proportionate to the number of workers or they should make arrangements, with the nearest Group Hospital where such facilities exist.

(2) Plans for the establishment of Group Hospital containing details as regard their location and size, areas of plantations served, the number of workers employed thereon etc. shall be approved by the State Government.

(3) Every Group Hospital shall have a minimum of 100 beds and there shall be at least 3 beds per 700 workers, every bed having 6 m2 of floor space.

Provided that the State Government may fix a lesser number of beds to be provided in a Group Hospital and exempt a group of plantations from providing a Group Hospital if it is satisfied that adequate alternative arrangements exist for the treatment of patients intended to be treated at a Group Hospital:

(4) The hospital shall bebuilt according to such specifications as may be approved by the State Government.

(5) There shall be provisions for supply of pure piped water, electricity, the modern methods of sanitation and water flushed closets. Each ward, labour room, surgical dressing room, consulting room and dispensary shall have a water pointover a suitable glazed sink:

Provided that with the approval of the State Government or an officer authorized by them, suitable alternative arrangements which are no less beneficial than that have been envisaged may be made in regard to supply of pure water, electricity and modern methods of sanitation.

(6) Each hospital shall have provision for – Operation theatre, X-ray, CT Scan, MRI Scan and all other modern diagnostic equipments, Physiotherapy, Labour rooms, Facility for treatment for V.D., T.B. and Dental disease, consulting and examination room, Clinical laboratory of satisfactory standard, Office room and Stores for linen as well as medicine, Lavatory and bath rooms, and Kitchen (fly proofed). The out-patient block consisting of examination room, office etc., should preferably be at some distance from the wards. Separate wards shall be provided formales, females, maternity cases, and small isolated wards for infectious diseases:

Provided that X-ray, CT Scan, MRI Scan, Physiotherapy blocks may not be provided if satisfactory arrangements are made by employers to provide these facilities with some hospital approved by the Chief Inspector.

(7) If the facility mentioned in sub rule (6) is not available in the Group Hospital the employer shall reimburse the actual cost of the facility incurred to the worker for availing such facility in any other hospital.

(8) Every Group Hospital shall have such medical and other staff as may be specified by the State Government from time to time. All medical officers in a Group Hospital shall be qualified medical practitioners.

(9) A properly equipped ambulance shall be maintained in every Group Hospital for the use of seriously ill patients free of charge. Where, however, the maintenance of an ambulance is too costly for a Group Hospital, such Group Hospital shall make free suitable transport arrangements for the transport of seriously ill patients.