Lead Story

Ministry of health to issue guidelines on spa operations

Sanjeev Bhar - New Delhi

In a bid to lift the standards of the health and wellness industry in India, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is planning to formulate standards for registration and regulation of spas and health resorts. Vineet Chawdhry, joint secretary with the ministry, says, "We are at a nascent stage of the process. This will ensure that basic conditions of granting a licence for a spa or health resort would be fulfilled." He added that it was too early to say when these guidelines will be put into practice.

In order to draft the regulation and formulate standards, the ministry is seeking suggestions from standalone spa operators, health resorts, the hospitality and tourism industries, consumer bodies, professional organisations and members of the general public.

According to some noted companies in India known for their spa expertise, they will respond to such a step only after the government issues the guidelines. Nevertheless, Sonia Sharma, manager of Spa & Health Club at Crowne Plaza Today Gurgaon, says, "We are happy with this development. It's a commendable step by the ministry and would be immensely beneficial to the industry at large in ensuring standard services at all spas. It would also regularise health and sanitation."

In recent times, there has been a rise in spa centres and fly-by-night operators. According to Sharma, "Quality, safety and privacy should be taken into consideration by the ministry. Having certified staff in each area of the spa is a pertinent issue that governs the other stated features."