The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has urged states and Union Territories to ensure that clinical establishments prominently display charges for their services and facilities, aiming to help patients make informed decisions and reduce billing-related disputes.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, in a letter to Chief Secretaries of all states and UTs, called for a review of compliance with applicable regulations and measures to make healthcare pricing information clearly visible and easily accessible to patients and their attendants.
Transparent pricing would help families understand likely treatment costs, plan medical expenditure and avoid confusion, while strengthening trust in healthcare services, she said.
The letter referred to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012. In states and UTs where the Act applies, the Rules require establishments to display rates for each type of service and available facility at a conspicuous place, in both the local language and English.
Where the Act does not apply, clinical establishments are governed by their respective state or UT regulatory frameworks, several of which also provide for the display of healthcare charges.
Noting that health is a state subject, Srivastava said implementation and enforcement rested with the respective states and UTs. She asked Chief Secretaries to ensure effective compliance through the authorities concerned.
The ministry also sought greater pricing transparency for international patients. States and UTs were requested to encourage the prominent display, wherever applicable, of package rates offered to foreign patients visiting India on Medical or Ayush Visas.
The measure would help international patients make informed choices, minimise pricing and billing grievances, and strengthen India’s position as a trusted destination for medical and Ayush care, the ministry said.
Srivastava sought the Chief Secretaries’ personal attention and requested appropriate advisories to authorities and clinical establishments, including directions to display rates at clearly visible and easily accessible locations in accordance with applicable regulations.
