Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires :- (a) `Authority` means the Andhra Pradesh Private Medical Care establishments Registering Authority constituted under section 4; (b) `Government` means the State Government of Andhra Pradesh. (c) `Hospital` means any premises having facilities for treatment of the sick and used for their reception or stay; (d) `Maternity Home` means any premises where women are usually received and accommodated for the purpose of confinement and ante-natal and post-natal care in connection with child birth or anything connected therewith; (e) `Medical Laboratory` means an establishment where; (i) biological, bacteriological, radiological, microscopic, chemical or other tests, examinations or analysis; or (ii) the preparation of cultures, vaccines, sera or other biological or bacteriological products, in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of diseases, are usually carried on, and includes as diagnostic centre; (f) `Medical Treatment` means treatment in modern medicine of "allopathic" treatment; (g) `Modern Medicine` means western method and includes allopathic medicine, obstetrics, surgery and dentistry; (h) `Notification` means a notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette and the word `notified` shall be construed accordingly; (i) `Nursing Home` means any premises used or intended to be used, for the reception and accommodation of persons suffering from any sickness, injury or infirmity, whether of body or mind, and the providing of treatment or nursing or both of them and includes a maternity home or convalescent home; (j) `Physiotherapy Establishment` means an establishment where massaging, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, remedical gymnastics or similar, processes are usually carried on, for the purpose of treatment of diseases or of infirmity or for improvement of health, or for the purpose of therapeutic relaxation; (k) `Private Medical Care Establishment` means a hospital, a medical laboratory, a diagnostic centre, a maternity home, a nursing home, an infertility or fertility clinic, a physiotherapy establishment, a polyclinic and any other like establishment providing in-patient or day care procedures, including surgery facilities by whatever name called, and administered or maintained by a `professionally qualified` person or body of persons whether incorporated or not, other than the Central or the State Government or any local authority or any other authority or body constituted by or under any Statute of a competent Legislature; (l) `Prescribed` means prescribed by rules made under this Act; and (m) `Register` means a register maintained under this Act and the expression `registered` and `registration` shall be construed accordingly.