New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has asked all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that rates charged for services and facilities offered by clinical establishments are displayed prominently, in a step to improve transparency, accountability and patient-centric healthcare delivery.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, in a letter to the Chief Secretaries of states and UTs, has called for a review of compliance with applicable regulatory provisions and appropriate measures to ensure that information on healthcare service charges is clearly visible and easily accessible to patients and their attendants.
The Union health secretary said 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. Greater transparency would also help minimise avoidable confusion and billing-related disputes, while fostering trust and confidence in the healthcare delivery system.
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. Under the rules, clinical establishments in states and UTs where the Act is applicable are required to display the rates charged for each type of service provided and facilities available at a conspicuous place, in the local language as well as in English, for the benefit of patients and their attendants.
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