The Kerala High Court has upheld the Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018, rejecting petitions from major medical associations including the Indian Medical Association and Kerala Private Hospitals Association. Justice Harisankar V. Menon ruled on June 23 that provisions mandating registration of clinics and the public display of treatment charges are valid and essential for protecting patients’ rights. The court emphasized that transparency builds trust and supports informed decision-making. It also defended the inclusion of dentistry under the Act, affirmed the role of patient representatives in oversight bodies, and ruled that emergency powers to suspend clinic licenses include adequate procedural safeguards. Declaring the law constitutional and fair, the court advised medical bodies to work with the state on practical implementation issues—securing Kerala’s position as a leader in accountable and people-centric healthcare governance.
