The Union Health Secretary has written a letter urging all states and union territories to ensure the prominent display of rates charged by clinical establishments to empower patients, prevent billing disputes, and strengthen trust in healthcare services.
The Centre's initiative emphasizes the importance of transparency in healthcare pricing. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories (UTs) advocating for the prominent display of rates charged for services and facilities offered by Clinical Establishments. This move is aimed at empowering patients to make informed healthcare decisions, prevent billing-related disputes, and strengthen trust in healthcare services. The letter underscores that the conspicuous display of rates will help patients and their families understand the likely cost of treatment, make informed healthcare decisions, and plan their medical expenditure.
The Union Health Secretary 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. States have also been urged to facilitate transparent display of package rates for international patients visiting India on Medical and Ayush Visas. This would enable international patients to make informed choices, help minimize pricing and billing-related grievances, and further strengthen India’s position as a trusted destination for medical and Ayush care.
The initiative reinforces the Central Government's commitment to making healthcare delivery more transparent, accountable, and responsive to patients' needs. It ensures that access to clear information on healthcare charges becomes an integral part of patient-centric care.
Source:
Akashvani News
