Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-15
Subject: Charges on Health Services
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Tejpratap Singh,Yadav, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, ANJU BALA, B. SREERAMULU

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 172 TO BE ANSWERED ON   15 TH DECEMBER, 2017

## CHARGES ON HEALTH SE RVICES

## 172. SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA: SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

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

- (a) whether the Government has noticed that good healthcare is beyond the reach of common people due to high cost charged by the pr ivate hospitals/doctors in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has received  any  representations  from  civil society  and  Non -GovernmentalOrganisations (NGOs) regarding price capping of medical procedures and tests/ investigation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any proposal  to  bring  a  new  legislation  and implement  the Clinical  Establishment (Registration  and  Regulation)  Act,  2010 effectively  to  regulate  the charges levied by the private hospitals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the corrective measures taken/ being taken by the Government to make the health services affordable in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a): Government is aware of reports appearing in different fora about the high cost char private clinical establishments. However, health being a State subject, it is the respon the  State  Government  to  regulate  hospitals  in cluding  private  hospitals  in  their  States  as  per provisions  of  the  Act  and  rules  applicable  in  the  States  to  provide  affordable  trea patients.
- (b) No such specific representation has been received.

(c) : Since health is a State subject, no new prop osal is presently under consideration of the Central Government.

However, the Government of India has enacted Clinical Establishments (Registration Regulation) Act, 2010 and notified Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, for registr a ion and regulation of the Clinical Establishments.

Currently,  the  Act  is  applicable  in  10  States  namely  Sikkim,  Mizoram,  Arunach Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan Uttarakhand and Ass and  all  Union  Territories  exce pt  Delhi.  Other  States  may  adopt  the  Act  under  clause  (1)  of Article 252 of the Constitution.

Health being a State subject, the implementation and enforcement of the said Act within the remit of the States/Union territories. The Government is persuading the States who have adopted it for its strict implementation from time to time.

(d): The Government of India has already enacted Clinical Establishments (Registration Regulation)  Act,  2010.  In  accordance  with  the  Clinical  Establishments  (Ce ntral  Government) Rules, 2012 under the said Act, one of the conditions for registration and continuation o establishments is that the clinical establishments (in the States / Union Territories whe Act is applicable) shall charge the r ates for each type of procedure and services within the rang of rates determined by the Central Government from time to time in consultation with the Governments.  The clinical establishments are also required to display the rates charged t ype  of  services  provided  and  facilities  available,  at  a  conspicuous  place  both  in  t language and English. The National Council for Clinical Establishments hasapproved a standard list of medical procedures and a standard template for costing of med ical procedures and shared the  same  with  the  States  and  union  Territories.  Further  action  lies  within  the  purvie State/UT Governments.