Explanation—The expression "rural areas" shall mean areas not included in any Municipal or Notified area within the meaning of the Orissa Municipal Act, 1950.

Inspection of clinical establishment

1. (1) The supervising authority or any officer empowered by it in that behalf may, subject to such general or special order as may be made by the State Government, at any time, enter and inspect any premises which are used or which the supervising authority or, as the case may be, the officer empowered by it has reason to believe to be used for the purpose of a clinical establishment and require the production of any records, which are required to be kept in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules, for inspection: Provided that any personal records of a patient if inspected during the course of inspection shall be kept confidential except for the purposes of sub-section (1).
2. (2) If any person refuses to allow the supervising authority or the officer empowered by it to enter or inspect any premises or to inspect any records under sub-section
3. (1) or obstructs such authority or officer in the exercise of his powers under this section, he shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.
4. (3) The supervising authority may interview any private inpatient treatment and care in the clinical establishment—
   • (a) for the purpose of inquiry into any complaint made by or on behalf of such patient as to the treatment and care; or
   • (b) in any case, where the supervising authority has reason to believe that any inpatient is not receiving proper treatment and care.
5. (4) Where the supervising authority is satisfied that any inpatient in a clinical establishment is not receiving proper treatment and care, He may issue such directions as deemed fit to the certificate holder, and every such certificate holder shall be bound to comply with such directions.