Lok Sabha Question No. 811 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Overcharging for COVID-19 Treatment
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi, M. Selvaraj, Gurjeet Singh Aujla

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 811 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY, 2021

## OVERCHARGING FOR COV ID-19 TREATMENT

## 811. SHRI A. GANESHAMURTH I:

SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

SHRI GURJEET SINGH A UJLA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints th t many private hospitals, nursing home have  beencharging  above  the  capped  rates  from  the  COVID - 19 patients, if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether Government is aware that life saving drugs like Remdisivir were sold at very high price by these hospitals/Nursing Homes, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the total number of hospitals/Nursing Homes that were found guilty of overcharging from COVID - 19 patients, State/UT - wise; and
- (d)  whether  any  action  has  been  taken/proposed  to be  taken  against  such  hospitals/nursing homes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d):    As per the constitutional provisions, Health is a State subject. It is, responsibility of the respective State/Union Territory (UT) Gove nment to take cognizance of complaints against private hospitals and nursing homes charging above the capped rates fr COVID - 19 patients, and take action to prevent and control such practices.  Such compla received are forwarded to State /UT Governments for taking appropriate action.  Details of such complaints and action taken by respective State/UT are not maintained Centrally.

The  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Clinical  Establishments  (Registration Regulation) Act, 2010 and not ified Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, as amended in 2018 and 2020 thereunder for registration and regulation of cli establishments in the country.  The Act also has provisions to prevent and control overc by hospitals/ Nursing Homes.

In the States/UTs, where the said Act is applicable, among other conditions, the c establishments, shall ensure compliance of Standard Treatment Guidelines as may be determi and issued by the Central or State Government, as the case may be, from time to time and display the rates charged for each type of service provided and facilities available in t well as in English language, at a conspicuous place for the benefit of the patients. Th Government has also app roved a standard list of medical procedures and a standard template costing  which  has  been  shared  with  all  States  and  UTs,  where  the  Act  is  applicable appropriate action by them.  The Act further provides for a registering authority in eac ct, which is empowered to conduct inquiry in case of violation of the provisions of the Act a necessary action including imposing penalties and cancellation of registration, if applica

The implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Clinical Establishments Act is within the remit of the respective State Government/UT Administration. The Act as on d applicable  in  11  States  namely  Bihar,  Jharkhand,  Uttrakhand,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Arunac Pradesh,  Sikkim,  Rajasthan,  Mizoram,  Uttar Pradesh,  Assam  and  Haryana  and  6  Union Territories namely Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Jammu & Kashmir.