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Decide on Hospital Charges or Face CGHS Rates: Supreme Court to Centre

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Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN    29 February 2024

The Supreme Court of India has raised serious concerns over the glaring disparities in healthcare costs between government hospitals and private facilities. Highlighting the stark contrast in prices, the court has demanded action with cataract surgeries costing as little as Rs 10,000 per eye in government hospitals, compared to Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,40,000 in private facilities.

 

The court expressed dismay at the Centres failure to enforce the Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Rules, a law that has existed for 14 years. These rules mandate the notification of standardised rates for treatments and procedures across different regions in consultation with state governments.

 

Despite the Centres repeated attempts to engage with states on this issue, it reported receiving no response. The Supreme Court, however, reiterated that access to healthcare is a fundamental right for all citizens and that the Centre cannot evade its responsibility.

 

Directing the Union health secretary to convene a meeting with state counterparts within one month, the court demanded the notification of standardised rates. It warned that failure to find a solution could result in the implementation of CGHS-prescribed standardised rates, as per the petitioners plea.

 

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Veterans Forum for Transparency in Public Life emphasised the need for the Centre to determine fees chargeable from patients by existing regulations.

 

These regulations require hospitals and clinical establishments to display rates for services and facilities provided and to charge within the determined range set by the Centre in consultation with state governments.

 

(Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-urges-centre-to-take-call-on-standard-hospital-charges-or-face-implementation-of-cghs-rates/articleshow/108053748.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst&pcode=461 )

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