Haryana has changed the rules for doctors who want to run nursing homes. Under a new policy, nursing homes can now be set up on residential plots taken on lease, not just on plots the doctor owns. The Town and Country Planning Department issued the policy for licensed residential colonies in the state.
What the New Haryana Nursing Home Policy Allows
The policy applies to residential plots acquired by qualified Allopathic or Ayush doctors on a lease of at least 10 years. Doctors who meet this condition can get permission to provide indoor admission and treatment at the site. The permission comes after payment of the conversion charges.
The approval will remain co-terminus with the validity of the lease. In simple terms, the nursing home permission lasts as long as the lease does.
Why Haryana Changed the Ownership Condition
Earlier, the condition in the February 10, 2026, policy was that doctors must own the residential plots. That requirement shut out doctors who worked from rented or leased premises.
"Earlier, the condition in the February 10, 2026, policy was that doctors must own the residential plots." — a senior officer of the Town and Country Planning Department
The decision follows a demand from the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The fresh policy is dated September 8 and was issued by Anurag Agarwal.
What This Means for Doctors and Patients
The change opens the door for doctors who cannot buy property but still want to run a nursing home. A 10-year lease is the minimum bar. Once the lease is signed and conversion charges are paid, the doctor can apply for permission to admit and treat patients indoors.
- Doctors no longer need to own the plot — a valid lease works
- The lease must run for at least 10 years
- Conversion charges must be paid before permission is granted
- Permission stays valid only as long as the lease is valid
Our Take: A Practical Fix for a Real Bottleneck
In our view, this is a sensible correction. Requiring ownership was a barrier that had little to do with patient care. A doctor's ability to run a nursing home should depend on qualifications, facilities, and compliance — not on whether they could afford to buy a plot.
To put it plainly, leasing is how many small clinics and nursing homes already operate in practice. The old rule pushed these setups into a grey zone. The new policy brings them into the formal system, where they can be regulated and inspected.
The 10-year lease condition is a reasonable safeguard. It ensures the nursing home has stability and is not a temporary arrangement that disappears in a year. Tying the permission to the lease period also keeps things clean — when the lease ends, the permission ends.
For patients, the likely effect is more neighbourhood nursing homes in licensed colonies, which means shorter travel for indoor treatment. For doctors, especially younger ones without property, this removes a major entry barrier.
The real test will be implementation. Conversion charges must be reasonable, and approvals must not get stuck in files. If the process is smooth, this policy will do what it is meant to do — make it easier to set up small nursing homes where people actually live.
Sources & References
- Original news report on Haryana's Town and Country Planning Department policy for nursing homes on leased residential plots