Pune: The PMC’s effort to create a reporting system for incidences of communicable diseases in the city has come a cropper with no private hospital keeping the civic body informed.

Section 17 of the Bombay Nursing Home Registration (Amendment Act) 2005, makes it mandatory for all private hospitals to report cases of infectious, non–infectious, delivery and abortion cases to local authorities. But none of the 600–odd private hospitals in the city has responded to the circular issued by the PMC on June 19.

"The aim is to collate data of diseases – infectious as well non–infectious – from all hospitals to understand areas in healthcare that need urgent attention. On the basis of this data, an integrated disease surveillance system can be initiated for appropriate medical intervention," said S T Pardeshi, medical officer of health, PMC.

Pardeshi, however, said the PMC is not planning an action yet. "We will approach all hospitals once again, sensitise them and motivate them to keep us informed. If they still don’t comply, we will have to take an action," said Pardeshi.

As per the circular, hospitals need to report cases of infectious diseases within 24 hours of diagnosis. The diseases that fall in this category are malaria, filaria, diphtheria, chikungunia, dengue, hepatitis/B/C/D/E, typhoid, cholera, leptospirosis, acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and swine flu. "Since infectious diseases spread fast and need urgent medical intervention, we have asked hospitals to report the cases within 24 hours. Waterborne and vector–borne diseases have the potential to turn into an epidemic if it remains uncontrolled for sometime. The aim is to check diseases in the beginning and prevent transmission," Pardeshi said.

Besides, hospitals need to report cases of non–infectious diseases like all types of malignancy (cancer), diabetes, hypertension, cases of cardiac disease, renal (kidney) failure, cerebral (brain) problems etc.

Senior gynaecologist Bharati Dhore–Patil, who is also the president of the Pune branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, "PMC officials did approach us to facilitate and streamline private hospital’s reporting work. Accordingly, we published an article in the IMA’s monthly magazine to sensitise doctors. We will conduct meetings of all hospitals and doctors to drive home the idea. It is an important work. We will do everything to make it happen."

IMA’s Pune branch has 3,380 members. There are 600 (small, medium and big) hospitals in Pune.

WHAT THE ACT SAYST he section 17 of the Bombay Nursing Home Registration (Amendment Act) 2005 says that the local supervising authorities may make by–laws not inconsistent with the Act or rules: