New Delhi: Amid growing calls for transparency in healthcare costs, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that clinical establishments prominently display the rates they charge for their services and facilities.
In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, called for a review of compliance with applicable regulatory provisions and appropriate measures to ensure that information on healthcare service charges is clearly visible and easily accessible to patients and their attendants.
Srivastava noted that the conspicuous display of rates would help patients and their families understand the likely cost of treatment, make informed healthcare decisions and plan their medical expenditure.
The letter refers to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, which provide a regulatory framework for Clinical Establishments.
According to the ministry, “Under the Rules, Clinical Establishments in States and UTs where the Act is applicable are required to display the rates charged for each type of service provided and facilities available at a conspicuous place, in the local language as well as in English, for the benefit of patients and their attendants.”
In States and UTs where the Act is not applicable, Clinical Establishments are regulated under the respective State/UT frameworks, several of which also contain provisions relating to the display of rates for healthcare services and facilities.
Recognising that health is a State subject and that implementation and enforcement of the applicable regulatory provisions rest with the respective States and UTs, the Union Health Secretary has called upon the Chief Secretaries to ensure effective compliance through the authorities concerned.
The letter also places particular emphasis on transparency in healthcare pricing for international patients.
States and UTs have been asked to encourage the prominent display, wherever applicable, of package rates offered to foreign patients travelling to India on Medical or Ayush Visas.
This would enable international patients to make informed choices, help minimise pricing and billing-related grievances and further strengthen India’s position as a trusted destination for medical and Ayush care, the ministry added.
