The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will take action
against maternity hospitals that do not issue birth certificates within
three days of a baby’s birth.
The penalties include revocation of
the hospitals’ trade licences. According to BBMP statistics, there are
over 1,800 centres offering maternity-related services, including
nursing homes, government and Corporation hospitals.
“After
introducing online registration for birth certificates in 2011, we had
insisted that hospital authorities issue the certificates through nearby
BBMP registration centres. The certificates would then be handed over
to parents directly. Not many are following our instructions,” a senior
BBMP official said.
Speaking to Express, BBMP Joint Director
(Statistics) Shankarappa said it was the responsibility of hospital
authorities to issue birth certificates to parents.
“Our idea is
that parents should step out from the hospital with the birth
certificate. However, parents are running from pillar to post for the
certificates. Even though the certificates have to be issued free of
cost, hospitals are charging for this,” Shankarappa said.
He said
the Corporation would soon issue a circular to all hospitals concerned.
He warned that the BBMP was planning to cancel trade licences of
hospitals that did not issue birth certificates on time.
“These
hospitals have to come to the office either to apply for fresh trade
licences or renew existing ones. In the coming days, BBMP will include
an additional clause of cancelling trade licenses if birth certificates
are not issued,” he added.
No Certificate? Call 22975802
Shankarappa
urged parents to notify the BBMP about hospitals that did not issue
birth certificates at the time of discharge. “Call us on 22975802 and we
will take action against the errants,” he assured.
