Lok Sabha Question No. 4471 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Exorbitant Charging by Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel, Deepak Baij, Ajay Bhatt

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4471 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH MARCH, 2020

## EXORBITANT CHARGING BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS

## 4471. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ: SHRI AJAY BHATT:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that the  rates  being  charged  by  the  private hospitals for various medical procedures are comparatively very highif so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has received any complaints with regard to harassment/unreasonable charges  by  private  hospitals,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  for last  three years and the action taken thereon;
- (c) whether the Government has any scheme to regulate these rates; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a)& (b) : Health  is  a  State  Subject.    Hospital  services  are  part  of  the  integrated services which are regulated by the State Governments concerned. As per the report of Nat Sample Survey 71st Round conducted by National Sample Survey Organization from Janu ary to June 2014, the average medical expenditure per hospitalization in private hospitals is compared to Government Hospitals.  It is the responsibility of the State Governments to cognizance of instances of unreasonable charges by private hos pitals and take action to prevent and control such practices. Details of such cases are not maintained centrally.

(c)& (d) : The Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registrati and Regulation) Act, 2010 and notified Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Ru 2012 to provide for registration and regulation of Government (except those of Armed Fo rces) as well  as  private  clinical  establishments  belonging  to  recognized  systems  of  medicine. State/Union Territories (UTs) that have adopted the CE Act, 2010 are primarily responsib regulating their hospitals including private hospitals as per p rovisions of the applicable Act and rules  thereunder  to  ensure  quality  care  and  for  providing  affordable  medical  treatm patients. In the States/UTs where the CE Act, 2010 is in force, the clinical establish required to fulfil the conditions such as minimum standards of facilities and services, minimum requirement  of  personnel,  maintenance  of  records  and  reports.    The  clinical  establis should  also  adhere  to  other  conditions  including  ensuring  compliance  to  Standard  Treat Guidelines  ( STGs)  issued  by  the  Central/State  Governments  and  display  of  rates  charged  b them at a conspicuous place. The National Council for Clinical Establishments, a statutor provided for under the Act, has approved a standard list of medical procedures and a standard template for costing of medical procedures and the same has been shared with the State UTs where the CE Act, 2010 is applicable, for appropriate action by them.

Currently, the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 has been adopte d by and is applicable in 11  States,  namely,  Sikkim,  Mizoram,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Uttar  Prades Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Assam and Haryana and 5 UTs of Andaman Nicobar Islands,  Chandigarh,  Dadra  and  Nagar  Haveli  and  Daman and  Diu,  Lakshadweep  and Pondicherry. Other States may adopt the Act under clause (1) of Article 252 of the Consti The  Central  Government  is  continuously  pursuing  with  the  States  to  adopt  the  Clin Establishment Act, 2010 and to ensure its stric t implementation or to consider bringing a State specific legislation in the matter.