Question : Treatment of Poor Patients

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the medical treatment facility is provided free of cost or at concessional rates to poor patients in private hospitals of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any complaints against various private hospitals regarding denial of free/ concessional treatment facility to such patients and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of such cases brought to the cognizance of the Government during the last three years, State/UT-wise along with the action taken against them during the said period; and

(e) whether the Government has prepared/brought out/proposed any effective law to ensure that medical treatment facilities are provided to the poor and serious patients by the private hospitals and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 409* FOR 23RD MARCH, 2018

(a) & (b) Health being a State subject, no such guidelines are issued by the Central Government. However, as far as Central Government hospitals are concerned, free/concessional treatment is provided to all patients.
(c) to (e): Grievances received from patients regarding treatment from time to time are immediately referred to concerned authorities in the respective States for redressal of grievances/complaints. No such registry is maintained in the Ministry.
However, the Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 for registration and regulation of the Clinical Establishments with a view to prescribe the Minimum Standards of facilities and services provided by them. The Act is presently applicable only in eleven States and all Union Territories except Delhi and its enforcement is within the purview of the State/UT Governments. Under the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules 2012, framed under the said Act, one of the conditions for registration and continuation of the clinical establishments (in the States/UTs where the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 is applicable) is that the clinical establishments shall ensure compliance of the Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) as may be determined and issued by the Central Government or State Government from time to time. Further, in accordance with the said rules, the clinical establishments (where the said Act is applicable) are required to display the rates charged for each type of services provided and facilities available, at a conspicuous sites both in the local language and English and are also required to charge the fees for each type of procedures and services within the range of rates determined from time to time in consultation with the respective State Governments. The National Council for Clinical Establishments, as provided under the Act, has approved a standard list of medical procedures and a standard template for costing of medical procedures and the same have been shared with the States for appropriate action.

Health being a State subject, it is the responsibility of State Government to issue necessary instructions to the Private Hospitals.
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