As a part of a major step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and patient-centric healthcare delivery, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directed Chhattisgarh Department of Health and Family Welfare to ensure prominent display of healthcare services rates at clinical establishments. The objective is to empower patients to make informed healthcare decisions thus preventing billing-related disputes and strengthening trust in healthcare services. In a letter to health secretary, Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, called for effective implementation of provisions relating to transparent display of healthcare charges.

 

Calling for a review of compliance with applicable regulatory provisions, the top health ministry official asked that appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that information on healthcare service charges is clearly visible and easily accessible to patients and their attendants. Emphasising the importance of transparency in healthcare pricing, he stated that clearly displaying rates would help patients and their families understand potential treatment costs, make informed healthcare decisions, and plan for their medical expenses. “Greater transparency would also help minimise avoidable confusion and billing-related disputes, while fostering trust and confidence in the healthcare delivery system,” she added. The letter refers to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation)

 

Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012, which provide a regulatory framework for Clinical Establishments. Given that health is a State subject and the responsibility for implementing and ensuring compliance with the applicable regulatory provisions lies with the State of Chhattisgarh, the Union Health Secretary has asked the state to ensure effective compliance through the relevant authorities. The initiative reinforces the Union Government’s commitment to making healthcare delivery more transparent, accountable and responsive to patients’ needs, ensuring that access to clear information on healthcare charges becomes an integral part of patient-centric care, informed officials of Chhattisgarh Department of Health and Family Welfare.