Lok Sabha Question No. 1083 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Exorbitant Charges by Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kani K. Navas, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama, Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1083 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND NOVEMBER, 2019

## EXORBITANT CHARGES B Y PRIVATE HOSPITALS

## 1083. SHRI K. NAVASKANI: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA: SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware of  the  fact  that  huge  amount  is  charged  to patients  by private hospitals, resulting in huge crowd of patients in Government hospitals in Delhi;

(b) whether the Government is going to frame any policy to curb high charges for treatment in private hospitals;

- (c) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to make affordable and standard healthcare facilities available to the patients in private hospitals also; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): Yes.The Government is aware of the reports appearing in the media from time to tim about cases of overcharging by the private health care establishments.

As per constitutional provisions, 'Health is a State subject. It is the responsibility of the respective State Governments take cognizance of such instances and to take action to prev and control such practices. Complaints, as and when received, are forwarded to the conc State/UT Government which regulate the hospitals/clinical establishments as per t e provi ions of Act and Rules applicable in the concerned State/UT.

(b) to (d) : The Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 and notified Clinical Establishments (Cen Government)  Rules,  2012 for  registration  and  regulation  of  clinical  establishments  (b Government and Private) in the country. In the States /UTs where the said Act is in for clinical establishments are required to meet the norms such as minimum standards of fac and  services,  minimum  requirement  of  personnel,  maintenance  of  records  and  reports displaying of rates at a conspicuous place. The clinical establishments are also required Standard Treatment Guidelines issued by the Central/State Governmen ts and charge rates for each type of procedure and service within the range of rates determined from time to tim National  Council  for  Clinical  Establishments  has developed  a  standard  list  of  medical procedures and a standard template for costing of m edical procedures and shared the same with the  States  and  Union  Territories  for  appropriate  action  by  them.  The  implementation enforcement of the said Act is within the purview of the State/UT Governments.

The Central Government, under the National Health Mission (NHM), provides financia and technical support to the States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare system for pro accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to all the people. This sup ort includes support for free  maternal  &  child  health,  immunization,  communicable  disease  control  programme prevention and management of non - c mmunicable diseases, strengthening health systems such as  physical  infrastructure,  augmenting  health  human  res ource  on  contractual  basis,  free ambulance services, free essential drugs & diagnostics, free blood, free dialysis servi poor, mobile medical units, etc.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Health  and  family  welfare  has  started  AMRIT  (Affordab le Medicines and reliable Implants for Treatment) stores where essential life saving medici implants are being provided at a substantial discount vis - à- vis the Maximum retail Price.