Centre Orders Hospitals to Prominently Display Prices for Transparency
What Happened
The Union Health Ministry issued a directive to all Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories, instructing hospitals and clinical establishments to prominently display treatment charges. The order invokes the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 and Rules, 2012, which mandate that service rates be displayed at a conspicuous location in both English and the local language. States where the central law is not applicable have been asked to enforce similar provisions under their own frameworks. The directive also requires hospitals to publish package rates for international patients arriving on medical or Ayush visas, strengthening India’s medical tourism credentials. Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized that visible pricing will help patients plan medical expenses, avoid confusion, and reduce billing disputes.
Key Takeaways
The directive is a major step toward patient‑centric healthcare, ensuring that treatment costs are transparent and accessible. It addresses long‑standing complaints about opaque billing practices and aims to build trust in India’s healthcare system, while also supporting medical tourism.