Tamil Nadu to publish registry of 41,000 clinical establishmentEmpowering patients to verify credentialsChennai: The Tamil Nadu state health department will release a gazetted list of over 40,000 clinical establishments registered under its authority – a significant step towards transparency in a sector that has long operated with limited public oversight.The list will include a wide range of health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, counseling clinics and clinical laboratories in allopathy, Indian medicine and homeopathy, which are registered with the health department under the Clinical Establishments Act. “This list created by the department is creating a legally recognised, publicly accessible record that patients can consult before seeking medical care,” said a senior official of the Directorate of Medical Services.Under the Clinical Establishment Act, all such institutions are required to obtain registration and renew it once every five years. Registration ensures that clinical establishments meet basic standards for location, staff, equipment, records, cleanliness and safety. It is required to maintain medical records as per the rules, display certificates and properly report changes such as ownership transfer or closure. “The department is now making the renewal process completely online. We will eliminate the paper-heavy process and reduce chances of delays or lapses in compliance,” the official said.Ten days ago, Health Minister KG Arun Raj had told reporters that around 8,000 applications from private hospitals and other clinical establishments for licenses were pending with the department. He had given instructions to issue temporary certificate immediately as soon as the necessary details are uploaded online and then to issue permanent certificate after comprehensive inspection. “We are doing this now. This is to ensure that no hospital operates without a license. The temporary license is given on the basis of self-declaration,” the official said.Health advocates say the registry will be a powerful reference point for patients, especially in small towns and peri-urban areas where unregulated clinics are common.