Lok Sabha Question No. 3850 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Overcharging by Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3850 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  MARCH 2022

## OVERCHARGING BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS

## 3850. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the minister of HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  fact  that  private  hospitals  are  exorbitantly charging from poor people in the name of healthcare and endorse unnecessary tests;
- (b)    if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  hospitals  found  involved  in  such  malpractices  in  the country, State / UT-wise including Delhi; and
- (c)  the concrete and punitive steps taken / proposed to be taken by the Government to check such illegal and unjust activities by the private hospitals in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):      Health  is  a    State  subject  and    it  is  the  responsibility  of  the  respective  State  /  Union Territory  (UT)  Government to take cognizance of such instances  wherein private hospitals  have charged  exorbitantly from poor people in the name of healthcare and have endorsed unnecessary tests and to take  action to prevent and control such practices.

Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act, 2010) and notified Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 for  registration  and  regulation  of  clinical  establishments  (both  government  and  private)  in  the country.

Under the Act, for registration and continuation, every clinical establishment is required to fulfil, among other conditions, the following conditions also:

- a) Display the rates charged for each type of service provided and facilities available in the local as well as in English language at a conspicuous place for the benefit of the patients.
- b) Ensure compliance with Standard Treatment guidelines issued by Central/State Government . So far Standard Treatment Guidelines for 227 medical conditions in Allopathy, 18 conditions in Ayurveda and 100 conditions in Siddha, have been issued.
- c) Charge the rates for each type of procedure and service within the range of rates determined and issued  by  the  Central  Government  in  consultation  with  the  State  Government. For  this,  a standard list of medical procedures and standard template for costing have been finalized and shared with the States/UTs where the Act is applicable.

The Act as on date is applicable in 11 States namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Haryana and 7  Union Territories namely  Puducherry, Dadra  & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar,  Chandigarh,  Lakshadweep,  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Ladakh.    The  implementation  and monitoring  of the provisions of the CE  Act  is within the remit of the respective State Government/UT Administration.

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