State set to regulate private hospitals, unlikely to cap fee

Document expected to be sent for cabinet nod next month; govt stays away from checking overcharging, a key Cong promise in run-up to 2017 assembly polls

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has prepared the draft of the Clinical Establishment Act to regulate the functioning of private hospitals in the state, but has seemingly caved in to the pressure from these healthcare facilities by deciding not to cap the fee charged from patients.

The draft, which is likely to be put before the cabinet for approval next month, focuses only on monitoring whether the required norms and standards are followed by private hospitals. Ironically, the primary objective of the Act was to check overcharging by private hospitals, a key promise made by the Congress in its manifesto in the run-up to the 2017 assembly polls.

The draft says all clinical establishments will themselves fix bed charges and reveal postdiagnosis package rates besides strictly following procedures related to operation theatre, intensive care, ventilation, implants, consultation and tests. “Any additional treatment or procedure shall not attract additional charges over and above the fixed rates and charges including the package rates,” it reads.

It makes it mandatory for the private hospitals to provide a proper for treatment before starting it and the final bill cannot exceed the amount beyond a certain percentage as prescribed by the government.

“The hospitals will fix the rates according to the facilities they provide but they will not charge more from the patients keeping in mind the common practice. They will have to charge in a transparent manner,” said a senior official involved in making of the draft. Will have to follow minimum accommodation standards The draft proposal says private hospitals will have to follow minimum standards of accommodation to be fixed by the state health department and engage such minimum number registered medical practitioner, nurse, paramedical staff, and other categories of employees with set qualification.

“Also, they will be required to maintain minimum standards of services as well as equipment. For example, for setting of an intensive care unit (ICU), they will have to follow basic criteria for machines, space, etc,” said an official.