Mumbai: The Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) said benchmarking private hospital room rents to the average cost of three-star hotels is “inappropriate” and called for a balanced approach to healthcare affordability.
Dr Girdhar Gyani, Director General, AHPI, said, “Affordability in healthcare cannot be addressed through a single measure or by looking at prices in isolation. A sustainable system must bring together public capacity, private sector capabilities, financial protection, transparent costing and meaningful quality outcomes.”
He added, “The focus should be on creating an environment where patients receive appropriate care without financial distress, while healthcare providers have the ability to maintain safety, quality and continuity of services.”
In its response to the Parliamentary Standing Committee report on “Affordability and Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Public and Private Sector”, AHPI said it welcomes the overall intent and several recommendations while calling for a balanced, evidence-based approach to healthcare affordability and accessibility.
It recommended moving from rigid price caps towards evidence-based cost transparency and benchmarking that takes into account factors such as geography, clinical complexity, infrastructure, manpower, technology and quality.
The body also suggested strengthening PM-JAY and other government healthcare packages through scientific costing, periodic revision and mechanisms that adequately recognise clinical complexity.
AHPI pushed for strengthening public healthcare capacity and expanding health insurance and financial protection, particularly for the uninsured and the “missing middle”. It also called for a single, harmonised and risk-based regulatory framework with single-window processes and reduced duplication of compliance.
