(a) whether the country has witnessedhuge rise in cost of medical
treatment overthe years;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Governmentin this regard;
(c) the increase in this rise in cost in2011-12 as compared to 2000-01;
(d) whether the treatment has beenmade costly even in Government hospitals
on the line of private sector hospitals; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and thereasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) & (b) The impact of rising health costs has been engaging the
attention ofthe Government.The Government has taken several steps to
provide accessible, affordable and accountable health care facilities to
all sections of the people that, inter-alia include:
# Launching of National Rural Health Mission with a view to provide
accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and quality healthcare
services, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population.
# Implementation of programmes for control of communicable and non-
communicable diseases.
# Increased public allocation for health programmes.
(c) The Wholesale Price Indices (WPI) (base 2004-05=100) in respect of
Drugs and Medicines has increased to 119.50 in 2011-12 (Provisional) as
against 91.43 in 2000-01. The Annual Average All India Medical Care Sub-
group indices of Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers on
base 2001=100 show an increase to 162 in 2011.
(d) & (e) Information regarding cost of treatment in State Government
Hospitals is not maintained centrally. However, as far as three Central
Government Hospitals namely Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. RML Hospital and Lady
Harding Medical College & Associated Hospitals in Delhi are concerned,
no fee is charged from the patients for doctors’ consultation and most of
the tests for which facilities are available in the Hospitals are done free
of cost. Nominal charges are levied for certain type of investigations and
procedures. However, BPL category patients/CGHS beneficiaries are exempted
from such charges. In the Central Government hospitals in Delhi, these
charges are fixed by Directorate General of Health Services/Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.