The Supreme Court has instructed the central government to establish uniform hospital treatment charges within six weeks, addressing the variability in treatment costs across different healthcare facilities. Currently, different hospitals charge different rates for treatment, making it challenging to implement cashless health insurance nationwide. The court's directive aims to facilitate the adoption of cashless health insurance schemes by ensuring consistent pricing across all hospitals.
The directive comes in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO, Veterans Forum for Transparency in Public Life, urging the court to determine the rate of fees chargeable by hospitals nationwide. The NGO highlighted the disparity in treatment costs, citing examples where the cost of cataract surgery in private hospitals ranged from Rs 30,000 to Rs 140,000 per eye, while government hospitals charged up to Rs 10,000 per eye.
Failure by the central government to propose a concrete plan within the specified timeframe could prompt the court to issue further directives. The move is expected to impact the general insurance industry positively, particularly schemes like 'Cashless Everywhere,' which enables policyholders to access treatments across all hospitals.
While the directive offers potential benefits for citizens, caution has been advised by medical associations regarding the risks associated with certain initiatives. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Hospital Board of India have cautioned hospitals against accepting the 'Cashless Everywhere' initiative in its current format, citing potential risks. Nonetheless, with over 40,000 registered hospitals in the country, the standardization of treatment charges is a significant step towards ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens.