WBCERC directs Private hospitals not to withhold body over unpaid bills
Standardized Format for Hospital Billing
Kolkata: In a move to address rising complaints against private hospitals, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) is set to implement new regulations prohibiting the practice of withholding dead bodies until the patients’ families clear dues.
Speaking at the eighth state conference of the Progressive Nursing Home Association held in Kolkata, WBCERC commissioner and retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Asim Banerjee emphasized that private medical establishments must not delay the release of a deceased person’s body over pending bills. He stressed that bodies should be returned to the next of kin within a fixed timeframe following the patient’s death.
According to The Statesman, he stated, “We are planning to frame rules on how outstanding hospital bills are paid by relatives of patients after the deaths of the latter at private hospitals and nursing homes during treatments. We will also take clearance from the state government before the formation of the rules. But the release of a dead body should not be withheld by private healthcare establishments by any means, not even by showing reasons for non-payment of bills. At the same time, hospitals should not also withhold indoor patients discharged by concerned doctors.”
Justice Banerjee highlighted the need for 24/7 availability of trained nursing staff and resident medical officers (RMOs) at all private hospitals and nursing homes, underlining the importance of maintaining professional healthcare standards. He also expressed concern over the alleged misuse of the state-run Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme by some private healthcare providers, urging them to refrain from exploiting public funds for financial gain.
Launched in 2017, West Bengal’s Clinical Establishment Act is unique to the state, with no equivalent legislation found elsewhere in the country. The WBCERC, functioning as an autonomous body under this Act, currently regulates between 5,000 and 7,000 private hospitals and nursing homes across West Bengal. WBCERC is the apex body overseeing treatment infrastructure in private hospitals and nursing homes across the state, reports the Daily.
To prevent overcharging by private hospitals, WBCERC had requested data from hospitals for the past three years to determine the number of Swasthya Sathi patients treated at private healthcare facilities. The direction came following complaints from patients about inflated bills for surgeries and other amenities in private hospitals.
