States Responsible for Hospital Pricing amid patient cost fears: Health Ministry
Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has acknowledged that while patients in India often fear the cost of medical treatment more than the illness itself. However, the Ministry clarified that decisions regarding fixed-rate pricing models and advance cost disclosures in hospitals remain under the purview of individual States and Union Territories, as ‘health’ is a State subject.
To bring uniformity and accountability in healthcare services, the Government of India enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act). The Act, along with the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, provides a regulatory framework for both government hospitals (excluding those operated by the Armed Forces) and private hospitals operating under recognised systems of medicine.
The government also offers comprehensive coverage through the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). This scheme includes expenses like pre-hospitalization (up to 3 days), diagnostics, medicines, consultations, and post-hospitalization care (up to 15 days).
To improve healthcare access in rural and underserved areas, the eSanjeevani telemedicine platform has been launched, offering remote consultations through two models: eSanjeevani AB-AAM and eSanjeevani OPD. In Maharashtra alone, over one crore consultations have been provided through this service.
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He asked if so, why public hospitals have not adopted fixed-rate and transparent pricing models;
He also asked whether the Government plans to mandate public and private hospitals to give advance cost estimates for surgeries and major procedures.
He sought to know the steps being taken to ensure affordable, technology-driven healthcare in rural and underserved urban areas of Maharashtra; and
Furthermore, he inquired whether AI, real-time analytics, and cloud-based platforms are being integrated in Government hospitals to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
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Responding to the queries, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel stated, ‘Health’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility to adopt fixed rate, transparent pricing models, to mandate hospitals to give advance cost estimates for surgeries and major procedures, along with ensuring affordable and technology-driven healthcare lies with States/UTs.
Nevertheless, the Government of India has enacted The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act) and notified Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 thereunder to provide for registration and regulation of Government (except those of Armed Forces) as well as private hospitals belonging to recognized systems of medicine. Under the CE Act, for registration and continuation, every hospital is, inter alia, required to 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.
Health benefit packages under AB-PMJAY cover all associated costs, which may include pre-hospitalization expenses for up to 3 days, diagnostics, pre-medication, consultations as well as post-hospitalization expenses for up to 15 days.
Further, the Government of India has launched eSanjeevani – India’s national telemedicine service to ensure affordable, technology-driven healthcare in rural and underserved urban areas, which is implemented in two variants, viz., eSanjeevani AB-AAM (Ayushman Bharat Ayushman Arogya Mandir) and eSanjeevani OPD. In Maharashtra, eSanjeevani has served over one crore consultations. Further, NIC has developedthe NextGen e-Hospital system aimed at streamlining hospital operations, enhancing patient care and efficient use of public health resources, further added the minister.
