Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires , – 1(a) "appellate authority" means the person or authority appointed by the State Government by notification to perform all or any of the functions of appellate authority under this Act; 2(aa) "clinical establishment" means a medical laboratory, a physio-therapy establishment, a clinic, or an establishment analogous to any of them, by whatever name called; (b) "Hospital" means any premises having facilities for treatment of sick and used for their reception or stay; (c) "maternity home" means an establishment 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; (d) Medical laboratory means an establishment where – (i) Biological,pathological,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 disease, are or is usually carried on; (e) "nursing home" means any establishment or premises used or intended to be used for the reception and accommodation of persons suffering from any sickness, injury or infirmity, whether of body, of mind and the providing of treatment or nursing or both for them, and includes a maternity home or convalescent home but does not include, – (i) any hospital or other establishment or premises maintained or controlled by the Central of the State Government or any other authority or body constituted by or under any statute of a competent Legislature; 1 (ii) any psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home established or licensed under the Mental Health Act, 1987 (No 14 of 1987). (f) “Physiotherapy establishment” means an establishment where massaging, electro-therapy, hydro-therapy, remedial 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 relaxation or for any other purpose whatsoever whether or not analogous to the purposes herein before mentioned in this clause; (g) “Qualified medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered in any state in India under any law for the time being in force for the registration of medical practitioners; (h) “Qualified midwife” means a midwife or an auxiliary nurse-midwife who possess any of the qualification included in section B or C, as the case may be, of part I of the Schedule of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 (48 of 1947), and who enrolled as a mid-wife or any auxiliary nurse mid wife in a state; (i) "qualified nurse" means a person who possesses the qualifications included in section A of Part I of Schedule to the Indian Nursing, Council Act, 1947 (48 of 1947) , and who is enrolled as a nurse; (j) "register" means a register maintained under this Act and the expression “registered”, and “registration” shall be construed accordingly; (k) "supervising authority" means the person or authority appointed by the state government by notification to perform all or any of the function of the supervising authority under this Act.