Lok Sabha Question No. 4356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Costly Medical Facilities
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RENUKA BUTTA, RAVINDRA BABU  PANDULA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4356 TO BE ANSWERED ON   11 TH AUGUST, 2017

## COSTLY MEDICAL FACIL ITIES

## 4356. SHRIMATI BUTTA RENUKA: DR. RAVINDRA BABU:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the health services have become beyond the reach of the common people due to high cost charged by the hospitals/doctors;
- (b) if so, any measures are being taken to make the h ealth services affordable;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to regulate the charges levied by private hospitals to make it accessible to poor and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether there is a proposal to bring  a  legislation  on  'Right  to Health' covering the entire health services both in Government and private sector hospitals and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a): As per National Health Accounts 2013 - 14, the out of pocket expenditure on healthcare as share of total health expenditure is 64.2%. As per  Report titled 'Health in India' brought out by National Sample Survey (NSS) Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation April, 2016 based on NSS 71st Round (January - June,  2014) conducted by them, around 25% rural  households  and  18%  urban  households  reported  borrowing  as  the  source  of  finance meeting the medical (hospitalisation) expenditure.
- (b): 'Public  Health  &  Hospitals'  being  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  for providing  free  and  affordable  health  services  lies  with  respective  State/UT  Governm Technical and financial support under the National Health Mission (NHM) is being provide States/  UTs for  strengthening  their  health  system  for  provision  of  accessible,  affordabl quality  healthcare  in  public  health  facilities.  Under  the  NHM,  the  Central  Governme supporting States for provision of a host of free services including for maternal hea lth, child health, adolescent health, family planning, universal immunisation programme, and for m diseases such as Tuberculosis, HIV/ AIDS, vector borne diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Kala Azar,  Leprosy etc. Other major initiatives for which sta tes  are  being  supported  for  free healthcare services include Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Rashtriya B SwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK), Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) etc

To reduce out of pocket expenditure and making healthcare afford able to all the citizens, the Government is also supporting States for provision of free essential drugs and dia under NHM Free Drugs Services Initiative and NHM Free Diagnostics Services Initiatives. Government  has  recently  launched  the  Pradha n  Mantri  National  Dialysis  Programme  under NHM  for  provision  of  free  dialysis  services  to  poor  and  free  universal  population screening and management of common NCDs.

Under  the  Rashtriya  Swasthya  Bima  Yojana  (RSBY),  a  centrally  sponsored  scheme, cashless treatment for hospitalisation cases is provided for family of five with insuranc 30,000/ -per annum for BPL and 11 specified categories of unorganized workers. Further, Sen Citizens  Health  Insurance  Scheme  (SCHIS)  as  top  up  over  exist ing  RSBY  scheme  has  been implemented  from  01.04.2016  for  senior  citizens  aged  60  years  and  above  which  provid additional coverage of Rs. 30,000 per senior citizen in the family enrolled under RSBY.

(c): Public Health is a State subject.  The Government of India has, however, enacted the Clinical  Establishments  (Registration  and  Regulation)  Act,  2010  and  has  also  notifie Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 for registration and regulation Clinical  establishments  in  the  coun try  with  a  view  to  prescribe  the  Minimum  Standards  of facilities and services provided by them. Currently, the Act is applicable in 10 State Sikkim,  Mizoram,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Himachal  Pradesh,  U.P,  Bihar,  Jharkhand,  Rajasthan Uttarakhand and Ass am and all Union Territories except Delhi. In accordance with the said ru the clinical establishments(where the said Act is applicable) are to charge the rates for of  procedures  and  services  within  the  range  of  rates  determined  and  issued  by the Central Government from time to time in consultation with the State Governments. The National Coun for Clinical Establishments has approved a standard list of medical procedures and a s template for costing of medical procedures and the same have been shared with the States and Union Territories. The clinical establishments are also required to display the rates ch each type of services provided and facilities available, at a conspicuous place in thei both in the local langu age and English. However, implementation of the said Act and rules i with the State/UT Governments.

(d): At  present , there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  of  the  Government  to  brin legislation on Right to Health.