Functions of the Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority

(1) The Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority on receiving a complaint regarding non-compliance to the Patient’s Charter or Private Medical Establishment's Charter shall enquire into the complaint: Provided that the complaints pertaining to negligence, non-adherence to standard protocols for treatments, procedures and prescription audit shall be referred to the Karnataka Medical Council for enquiry and report within sixty days to the Authority. (2) The Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority shall, while investigating or enquiring any matter under this section, have the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil procedure 1908, and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:- (i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (ii) discovery and production of any documents and witness; (iii) receiving any evidence on affidavits; (iv) requisitioning for any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and (v) any other matter which may be prescribed. (3) The Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority shall, to remedy the Grievance, hear the aggrieved person and the other party and shall dispose of the complaint by a summary trial within ninety days from the date of complaint. In the principal Act, in section 19, in sub-section (1),- (i) for the words and figure “granted under section 7” the words, letter and figures “granted under sections 5A and 7” shall be substituted; and (ii) after sub-section (1) as so amended, the following shall be inserted, namely:- “(1-A) In case a private medical establishment employs or appoints any unqualified medical officer or paramedical staff such private medical establishment shall on conviction be liable for an imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with a fine which may extend to Rs. 1,00,000.”