India, May 14 -- The Maharashtra government is set to introduce a sweeping new law to regulate hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and virtually the entire healthcare sector through the proposed Maharashtra Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2025. The draft legislation seeks to replace the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949, and establish a comprehensive framework for registration, regulation, inspection and standardisation of healthcare facilities across the state.

The draft bill makes the registration of all clinical establishments compulsory, and has a provision of a Rs.5-lakh penalty and six-month imprisonment term for defaulters. Focusing on patients' rights and grievances, it mandates a display of...