The Union Health Ministry has asked States and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that hospitals and other clinical establishments prominently display the rates charged for their services and facilities. The move aims at improving transparency in healthcare costs and helping patients make informed decisions.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, in a letter to the chief secretaries of all states and UTs, has called for a review of compliance with applicable regulations and asked them to ensure that information on healthcare charges is clearly visible and easily accessible to patients and their attendants.
“The move seeks to address a key concern for patients and families who may struggle to estimate treatment costs while navigating healthcare services. Clear disclosure of rates can help them understand the likely expenditure, plan their finances and avoid confusion over bills,” explained an official from the Ministry.
Emphasising the need for transparency in healthcare pricing, the Health Secretary in the letter pointed out that the prominent display of rates would help patients and their families make informed healthcare decisions. It could also reduce avoidable misunderstandings and billing-related disputes, while strengthening trust in the healthcare system.
The letter draws attention to the provisions of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012. Under the rules, clinical establishments in states and UTs where the Act applies are required to display the rates charged for each type of service and the facilities available at a conspicuous place.
The information must be displayed in both the local language and English to ensure that patients and their attendants can understand it.
The Ministry also asked states and UTs to review whether clinical establishments are complying with these requirements and take appropriate steps through the authorities concerned to ensure effective implementation.
Since health is a state subject, the responsibility for implementing and enforcing the relevant provisions rests with state and UT administrations. The regulatory framework is not uniform across the country: in states and UTs where the central Act does not apply, clinical establishments are governed by their respective state or UT laws and regulations. Several of these frameworks also provide for the display of rates for healthcare services and facilities.
Keeping this in view, the Ministry has urged the chief secretaries to personally look into the implementation of the suggestions, asking them to issue appropriate advisories to the concerned authorities and clinical establishments. Rates should be displayed at locations where patients and attendants can easily see and access the information, in accordance with the applicable rules.
For patients, such disclosure can be particularly important when comparing available treatment options or preparing for planned procedures. However, displayed rates need to be clear about the services and facilities covered so that patients can understand what a quoted amount includes and whether additional charges may apply.
The letter also highlights the need for greater pricing transparency for international patients who travel to India for medical treatment or Ayush services.
States and UTs have been asked to encourage the prominent display, wherever applicable, of package rates offered to foreign patients travelling on medical or Ayush visas. The aim is to help these patients make informed choices before seeking treatment and reduce the scope for pricing-related confusion and billing grievances.
India attracts international patients for a range of medical and traditional healthcare services. Clear information on package costs can help them plan their treatment and travel expenses, understand the services included in a package and make comparisons between providers.
The Ministry said greater transparency in pricing could also strengthen India's position as a trusted destination for medical and Ayush care.
The directive places the onus on state and UT authorities to ensure that existing provisions translate into visible, accessible information at healthcare facilities. “Merely having rules on paper may not be sufficient if patients cannot easily find or understand the charges,” experts in the sector said.
