The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will take action against maternity hospitals that do not issue birth certificates within three days of a baby’s birth.
The penalties include revocation of the hospitals’ trade licences. According to BBMP statistics, there are over 1,800 centres offering maternity-related services, including nursing homes, government and Corporation hospitals.
“After introducing online registration for birth certificates in 2011, we had insisted that hospital authorities issue the certificates through nearby BBMP registration centres. The certificates would then be handed over to parents directly. Not many are following our instructions,” a senior BBMP official said.
Speaking to Express, BBMP Joint Director (Statistics) Shankarappa said it was the responsibility of hospital authorities to issue birth certificates to parents.
“Our idea is that parents should step out from the hospital with the birth certificate. However, parents are running from pillar to post for the certificates. Even though the certificates have to be issued free of cost, hospitals are charging for this,” Shankarappa said.
He said the Corporation would soon issue a circular to all hospitals concerned. He warned that the BBMP was planning to cancel trade licences of hospitals that did not issue birth certificates on time.
“These hospitals have to come to the office either to apply for fresh trade licences or renew existing ones. In the coming days, BBMP will include an additional clause of cancelling trade licenses if birth certificates are not issued,” he added.
No Certificate? Call 22975802
Shankarappa urged parents to notify the BBMP about hospitals that did not issue birth certificates at the time of discharge. “Call us on 22975802 and we will take action against the errants,” he assured.