Lok Sabha Question No. 3263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Exorbitant Charging by Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3263 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  DECEMBER 2021

## EXORBITANT CHARGING BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS

## 3263.  SHRI KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)    the  number  of  cases  of  charging  exorbitant  bill  from  the  patients  as  well  as  showing careless and immortal behavior towards them by the private hospitals in the country reported during the last five years;

(b)    whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  action  against  the  hospitals  for  financially exploiting the common man, if so, the details thereof;

- (c)    whether the Government takes suo moto cognizance of careless and immoral behavior towards the patients by the private hospitals in the country;
- (d)  if so, the details in this regard during the last five years, State / UT-wise; and
- (e)  the various steps taken/being taken by the Government to limit the cost of treatment by the hospitals and ensure better healthcare facilities in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e):   Health is a State subject.  It is for the respective State Government to take any action  against  the  private  hospitals  for  charging  exorbitantly  from  patients  or  for  any insensitive  behavior  towards  them.  In  case  such  complaints  are  received  by  the  Central Government, they are referred to the respective State Government for appropriate action.

The Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation)  Act,  2010  and  notified  Clinical  Establishments  (Central  Government)  Rules, 2012  for  registration  and  regulation  of  the  clinical  establishments  (both  Government  and private) with a view to prescribe the minimum standards of facilities and services provided by them. In accordance, with the aforesaid Rules, in the States/Union Territories(UTs) where the said Act is in force, the clinical establishments are required to follow the Standard Treatment Guidelines  (STG)  issued  by  the  Central/State  Governments,  charge  rates  for  each  type  of procedure and services within the range of rates determined from time to time in consultation with the State Governments and display the rates charged for each type of services provided and facilities available, at a conspicuous place. National Council for Clinical Establishments has approved a standard list of medical procedures and standard template for costing which has  been  shared  with  all  State  and  UTs,  where  the  Clinical  Establishments  Act,  2010,  is applicable, to work out the cost of various procedures and services provided by the clinical establishments taking into the account all factors including local factors.

As  on  date,  the  Clinical  Establishments  Act,  2010  has  been  adopted  by 11  States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Rajasthan,  Sikkim,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Uttarakhand,  Haryana;  and  7  UTs  namely,  Andaman  & Nicobar  Islands,  Chandigarh, Dadra  and  Nagar  Haveli  and  Daman  and  Diu,  Jammu  & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. The implementation of the Act is within the remit of respective State/UT Government.

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