Pune: Patients’ Rights Council Demands Healthcare Reforms, Gives Government 90-Day Deadline Or Threatens Statewide Agitation

Pune: The Patients’ Rights Council has called for significant healthcare reforms, warning of potential statewide agitation if their demands are not met within a 90-day deadline. The council, led by Umesh Chavan, highlighted that patients and their families often face financial ruin due to exorbitant treatment costs, opaque billing, and the high prices of medications and medical supplies.

Chavan emphasized that patients should receive transparent bills, fair charges, and justice without fear of arbitrary recovery. The council has demanded a separate Drug Safety Act to monitor the prices of essential and life-saving medicines and regular audits of hospital bills, particularly in government hospitals. They also seek itemized bills specifying costs for various services and a mechanism for refunding patients when unjustified additional charges are levied.

Additionally, the council proposed regular social audits of charitable hospitals to ensure economically disadvantaged patients receive the mandated free or subsidized treatment. They further advocated for a real-time dashboard displaying information on free and subsidized beds and a Hospital Transparency Portal containing details on hospital charges, facilities, and complaint redressal officers.

The council demanded greater transparency in the pricing of medical devices and consumables, aiming to reduce the gap between procurement prices and printed MRPs. Chavan stressed the need for immediate government action to prevent the financial exploitation of patients and ensure justice. If these demands remain unaddressed within the 90-day window, the council threatened to initiate a statewide agitation through public awareness campaigns, representations, and democratic means.

The council's calls for reform arose following concerns raised by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe over the significant price gaps between procurement prices and printed MRPs of hospital consumables.