Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018:

The Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018, is a significant piece of legislation aimed at improving public health in Kerala by regulating clinical establishments across all recognized systems of medicine. The Government of Kerala, after considering the demand from the public and other stakeholders brought about the Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act 2018 (KCEA 2018), passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on 1st of February 2018. This Act is aligned with the national Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, but includes provisions specific to Kerala, such as the categorization of hospitals based on their size and the nature of services provided.

The Act covers all clinical establishments in Kerala, irrespective of whether they are in the public or private sector, and encompass Modern Medicine including Dental, Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Homoeopathy, Siddha, and Unani systems. This includes clinics, poly clinics, day care centres, hospitals, , nursing homes, dental clinics, laboratories, diagnostics centers and other healthcare facilities except Armed Forces Establishments and clinical establishments offering Consultation Services only.

The provisional registration process for clinical establishments under Modern Medicine, including Dental, Laboratory and Diagnostics Services commenced on January 1, 2019. The Act governing Indian Systems of Medicine, including Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy came into force on June 16, 2019. Following this, the provisional registration portal for AYUSH establishments was launched

In the 2023-24 periods, Minimum Standards Rules for clinical establishments under Modern Medicine, Dental, Laboratory, Diagnostics services, and Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy were officially notified. Simultaneously, the Permanent Registration Portal for Modern Medicine, Dental, Laboratory, and Diagnostic Services was launched on April 26, 2023 and the Permanent Registration Portal for AYUSH establishments was officially opened on March 7, 2024.
In addition to registration and compliance, a State Council, 14 District Registering Authorities, an Executive Committee, a Grievance Redressal Committee and an Appellate Authority were established to oversee the implementation of the Act. A dedicated Grievance Redressal Portal was launched, enabling the public to raise complaints related to clinical establishments. There is also an appeal portal available for clinical establishments to file appeals against the decisions of the District Registering Authority.