Haryana Health Department Revises Hospital CCTV Directive
The Haryana health department has significantly modified its order requiring CCTV surveillance in hospital intensive care units and high dependency units. This revision comes directly in response to privacy concerns raised about the initial directive.
Health officials cited the need to verify Ayushman Bharat claims as the original reason for surveillance. However, after substantial debate about patient dignity, the department issued a completely revised advisory.
What the New Order Actually Says
The CEO of Ayushman Bharat–Haryana health protection authority issued the modified directive with clear restrictions. CCTV surveillance will now be strictly limited to corridors leading to HDUs and ICUs. Designated entry and exit points may also have cameras.
The order explicitly prohibits cameras in several critical areas:
- ICUs and HDUs
- Patient rooms and bedsides
- Procedure areas
- Any location where clinical examination occurs
- Nursing care spaces
- Medical procedure rooms
The directive states that any location involving clinical care is strictly off-limits for CCTV installation, except where specifically permitted by law.
Privacy Concerns Sparked the Change
Health experts had raised serious objections to the original order. They pointed out that ICU patients often cannot provide informed consent due to their medical condition. Real-time monitoring by external authorities could amount to excessive surveillance beyond normal hospital security measures.
Doctors expressed particular concern because the earlier directive left room for interpretation about cameras within clinical spaces. These areas involve vulnerable patients receiving intimate medical care.
"The revised advisory shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner that preserves patient dignity and privacy," the new order clearly states.
Alignment with National Standards
The revised provisions now align with standards set by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers. NABH standards allow CCTV cameras only in common service areas while strictly prohibiting intrusion into treatment spaces.
In NABH-accredited hospitals, patients are entitled to:
- Safe, respectful, and transparent care
- Privacy and dignity during treatment
- Clear information about their condition
- The right to give or withhold informed consent
Strict Controls on CCTV Access
The advisory significantly tightens access to CCTV feeds. Live feeds from permitted areas may only be accessible to state headquarters. Even then, access requires specific official purposes.
The order emphasizes that access must be:
- Purpose-specific
- Proportionate to the need
- Duly recorded
"Continuous or routine live monitoring is not intended," the directive explicitly states.
Limited Purposes for Footage Use
The order lists specific, limited purposes for CCTV footage:
- Scheme monitoring
- Medical and claims audits
- Pre-authorisation scrutiny
- Claim processing
- Investigations into suspected fraud or misuse
Data Protection and Retention Policies
Doctors reiterated that health data requires heightened safeguards. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 treats health-related information as sensitive personal data. The law mandates consent-based processing with specific obligations for organizations handling such information.
Regarding retention, the authority advised hospitals to keep recordings for a reasonable period. Preferably up to 30 days, in line with internal policy and legal norms. Hospitals will not be required to preserve footage indefinitely.
Implementation and Accountability
Hospitals must implement safeguards against unauthorized access, tampering, manipulation, and misuse. They remain responsible for addressing technical failures and documenting them for audit purposes.
The earlier directions placed personal accountability on hospital administrators. Medical superintendents or authorized Ayushman Bharat nodal officers bear personal responsibility for ensuring compliance.
Immediate Effect and Expert Response
The revised advisory takes effect immediately, replacing the earlier advisory issued on January 7. Experts consider the updated wording crucial because it clearly distinguishes access monitoring from patient surveillance.
"After we raised concerns, the order was modified. In critical care settings, privacy is non-negotiable. Surveillance cannot extend into treatment zones," said Dr. Ajay Mahajan, former president of the Indian Medical Association's Haryana chapter.
A Gurgaon resident whose relative was recently admitted to an ICU commented, "CCTV cameras inside ICU areas would have been extremely intrusive. Monitoring entry points is fine, but patients must not be recorded when they are vulnerable."
About Ayushman Bharat in Haryana
Launched by the central government in 2018, Ayushman Bharat allows eligible low-income families to access treatment up to ₹5 lakh annually. Families with annual income below ₹2.5 lakh, elderly persons, and other vulnerable groups can register under the scheme.
Empanelled hospitals provide free treatment to beneficiaries and later submit reimbursement claims through an online portal. State agencies examine these claims before releasing payments.
Currently, about 1,300 hospitals operate under Ayushman Bharat in Haryana. This includes approximately 650 private facilities serving beneficiaries across the state.
