Ensure display of rates for services by hospitals, Centre advises States

Hyderabad: In a significant step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and patient-centric healthcare delivery, the Union Health Ministry has asked all States and Union Territories to ensure the prominent display of rates charged for services and facilities offered by Clinical Establishments.

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, in a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs, has 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.

The initiative reinforces the Government of India's commitment to making healthcare delivery more transparent, accountable and responsive to patients' needs, ensuring that access to clear information on healthcare charges becomes an integral part of patient-centric care.

The Health Secretary said transparent and conspicuous display of rates would enable patients and their attendants to understand the likely financial implications of treatment, make informed decisions and plan their healthcare expenditure. It can also help minimise avoidable confusion and billing-related disputes and contribute to greater trust and confidence in the healthcare delivery system.

The Government of India enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act) and notified the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, with the objective of providing for the registration and regulation of Clinical Establishments, including Government (except those under the Armed Forces) and private establishments, belonging to recognised systems of medicine.

The Rules provide that every Clinical Establishment should 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 information and benefit of patients and their attendants.

The secretary further said that in States/UTs where the CE Act is not applicable, registration and regulation of Clinical Establishments are governed by the respective State/UT regulatory frameworks. In several such States/UTs, the applicable provisions also provide for the display of rates for services and facilities, with a view to promoting transparency and enabling patients and their attendants to make informed decisions.

Health being a State subject, implementation and enforcement of the applicable provisions governing Clinical Establishments rests with the respective States/UTs. The Government of India has, nevertheless, been facilitating measures to strengthen transparency, accountability and patient-centricity in healthcare delivery.

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