Maharashtra Bill does not regulate private hospital treatment rates, says health right group
The campaign also includes meetings with all 21 MLAs who are members of the JLC, demanding Health Minister convene a statewide consultation with organisations and networks working in the health sector to discuss the Bill.
The Maharashtra Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill (CEB) does not include provisions to regulate treatment rates charged by private hospitals, according to Jan Arogya Abhiyan (JAA), a coalition of NGOs and health professionals. They announced this on Friday while launching a statewide campaign urging the public to submit objections to the Joint Legislative Committee (JLC).
The JLC, comprised of 21 MLAs, is reviewing objections and suggestions on the Bill. JAA also called for a statewide consultation with health sector organizations and networks to discuss the Bill. They stressed that the Bill should include fixed treatment charges for common procedures, beds, investigations, ICU services, and doctor consultations; hospitals that violate these rates should face penalties, a refund provision, and provide patients with an estimated bill detailing the treatment cost.
The estimated limit should not exceed the actual cost by more than 5-10%. Other suggested provisions include a ban on withholding patients or dead bodies due to payment issues, an accessible grievance redressal system, an independent, well-staffed regulatory authority, and stakeholder participation in the State Council. The CEB was introduced in the state Assembly on July 3, replacing the 77-years-old Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949.
Hospital data analysis from five major private hospitals in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur shows average treatment charges ranging from ₹24,000 to ₹62,000 per day, which can equate to the average monthly per-capita income of a person in the state. Jan Arogya Abhiyan representatives highlighted that 77% of all hospitalizations in Maharashtra occur in private hospitals, the highest among all Indian states, with an average out-of-pocket expenditure of ₹40,500 and a 87% increase in rural hospitalization costs.
They estimated that 40 lakh people in Maharashtra could be pushed into poverty due to healthcare expenses.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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