The Central Ministry of Health has addressed all states and dependent territories with a requirement to ensure clear display of treatment costs and provided services in hospitals and clinics.
In a letter addressed to the chief secretaries of the states and dependent territories, the central health secretary Punnya Salil Srivastava requested an inspection of compliance with existing regulations and the adoption of measures that would allow patients to easily obtain information about treatment expenses.
According to the Medical Institutions Registration and Regulation Act of 2010 and related rules of 2012, in regions where this law is in effect, institutions are obliged to openly display the fee for services and available amenities. This information must be presented in both English and the local language.
In those states and dependent territories where federal law does not apply, medical institutions are regulated according to their own rules, and some of them already require the display of prices.
The Ministry emphasized that having clear information about the cost of medical care will help patients and their families assess treatment expenses, make informed decisions, and plan medical expenditures. It can also reduce confusion and disputes related to billing.
Furthermore, the states and dependent territories were instructed to encourage the display of package rates for foreign patients arriving in India on medical or Ayurveda visas, where applicable. The goal of this initiative is to increase price transparency in the healthcare sector and strengthen the accountability of the healthcare system.
