Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has urged states and Union Territories to ensure that clinical establishments prominently display the rates charged for their services and facilities to improve transparency and accountability in healthcare delivery.
In a letter to the chief secretaries of states and UTs, Srivastava called for a review of compliance with applicable regulatory provisions and appropriate measures to ensure that information on healthcare charges is clearly displayed and easily accessible to patients and their attendants.
The letter refers to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, which provide a regulatory framework for Clinical Establishments.
The Union health secretary also emphasised that the conspicuous display of rates would help patients and their families understand the likely cost of treatment, make informed healthcare decisions and plan their medical expenditure, as the transparent system would help minimise avoidable confusion and billing-related disputes.
Under the rules, clinical establishments in states and UTs where the Act is applicable are required to display, in a conspicuous place and in the local language as well as in English, the rates charged for each type of service provided and the facilities available, for the benefit of patients and their attendants.
In states and UTs where the Act is not applicable, clinical establishments are regulated under the respective state and UT frameworks, several of which also contain provisions relating to the display of rates for healthcare services and facilities
Recognising that health is a state subject and that implementation and enforcement of the applicable regulatory provisions rest with the respective states and UTs, the Union health secretary has asked the chief secretaries to ensure effective compliance through the authorities.
The letter also places particular emphasis on transparency in healthcare pricing for international patients.
States and Union Territories have also been asked to encourage clinical establishments to prominently display package rates for foreign patients travelling to India on medical or Ayush visas, where applicable. The move is intended to help international patients make informed choices, reduce pricing and billing-related disputes, and reinforce India’s position as a trusted destination for medical and Ayush care.
Srivastava has sought the personal attention of chief secretaries, urging them to issue advisories to the relevant authorities and clinical establishments to ensure that rates are displayed in conspicuous, clearly visible and easily accessible locations.
The initiative aims to make healthcare charges more transparent and ensure patients can access clear information on costs before seeking treatment, strengthening accountability and patient-centred care.
(With agency inputs from PTI)