Centre pushes for transparent healthcare pricing to curb billing disputes: All you need to know

The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure that clinical establishments prominently display rates for healthcare services and facilities to improve pricing transparency and help patients make informed decisions.

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 regulations and measures to ensure that healthcare charges are clearly visible and accessible to patients and their attendants.

The move would help patients and their families understand the likely cost of treatment, plan medical expenditure and make informed healthcare decisions, according to the Union Health Ministry.

“Greater transparency would also help minimise avoidable confusion and billing-related disputes, while fostering trust and confidence in the healthcare delivery system,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry referred to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, which require clinical establishments in states and UTs covered by the law to display rates for each type of service and available facility at a conspicuous place.

The rates must be displayed in both the local language and English, according to the rules.

In states and UTs where the central law is not applicable, clinical establishments are regulated under the respective state or UT frameworks, several of which also contain provisions for displaying healthcare service charges.

Noting that health is a state subject and the implementation and enforcement of the applicable regulations rest with state and UT authorities, Srivastava urged the chief secretaries to ensure effective compliance.

The Centre has also asked states and UTs to encourage the prominent display of package rates, wherever applicable, for foreign patients travelling to India on Medical and Ayush Visas.

Srivastava has sought the personal attention of the chief secretaries and asked them to issue advisories to the concerned authorities and clinical establishments to ensure that rates are displayed at clearly visible and easily accessible locations in accordance with applicable regulations.