Health care facilities for babies and new mothers are in urgent need of regulation, experts said yesterday.

The concerns were raised at the opening of the China Health Care Association Maternal and Baby Research Base in Pudong New Area.

"It's good that more parents and Chinese families are seeking health care information for new-born babies and adopting many modern theories," said Dr Pan Mingming from the Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Fudan University. "Maternal and baby health facilities have begun to boom in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing. But there is no regulation on these facility's qualifications, their staff administration and their service."

There are 15 such facilities in Shanghai, most of which have opened without any special medical permit. Mother and baby centers only have to apply for the same type of business permit as hotels.

"Without professional guidance, it is difficult to ensure their quality and therefore the safety of both mothers and babies," said Pan.

Officials from the Shanghai Health Bureau said these facilities weren't under its administration, but expressed concern about their lack of regulation.

"Regulations and rules lag behind social development," said Song Guofan, a bureau official. "But the service they offer is more like social care, which is different from a medical practice. However, it is true that staff malpractice could result in severe consequences because their customers are new-born babies and new mothers."

Guo Ailin, an official from Shanghai CareBay Maternity Care Center said the business is in a health care "no man's land."

"We welcome a strict administration which uses qualifications to better manage the market," she said. "A lax administration is no good for the industry."

(Shanghai Daily October 27, 2008)