SURAJ NANDREKAR

While Goa is still pondering over how to curtail overcharging by private hospitals, neighbours Karnataka seem to have gone a step ahead.

A new Bill has been introduced in the Karnataka assembly according to which overcharging will invite penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh; hospitals cannot collect advance amount, can’t demand dues to hand over body.

Karnataka has introduced an amendment Bill to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which will authorise the government to fix the rate or charge for each class of treatment provided in private hospitals.

The government has made a provision to impose a penalty of Rs 25,000 to Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of not less than six months that may extend up to three years if a hospital is found charging more than the rate fixed by the government. The new rule will bar private hospitals from demanding advance payments for patients or the representatives of patients in case of emergency treatment.

Following are the features of the Bill:

No demand for dues to hand over body

In the future, private hospitals cannot demand any due amount at the time of handing over the body of a person, but will have to collect dues later. There have been instances of private hospitals refusing to hand over the body over dues, resulting in altercations between the hospital authorities and the kin.

Must provide proper estimate for treatmentThe Bill states, “Every private medical establishment shall follow the rates as fixed by the government, including the package rate for investigation, bed charges, operation theatre procedure, intensive care, ventilation, implants, consultation and similar tests and procedures and any additional treatments or procedures shall not attract additional charges over and above such rates fixed by the state government, including the package rates unless explained to and consented by the patient.”

The Bill has mandated the private hospital authorities to provide a proper estimate for treatments not covered in fixed rates during initiation or due course of the treatment. 

The final bill shall not exceed the estimates given by the hospital. The patient charter will be available in Kannada, English and Hindi. The charter must be displayed prominently at multiple locations.

Rights of patients

The Bill talks about rights of patients while receiving treatment at the hospital. The rights include receiving treatment irrespective of primary or associated illness, socio-economic status, age, gender or other considerations. The doctor must write the prescription legibly and must explain dosages, generic options of the medicine and dos and don’ts for patients. The patient has the right to seek a second opinion on his medical condition.

However, the patients must respect the doctors and medical staff, abide the hospital rules, not involve in abusing, assaulting or causing harm to the doctor or staff of the hospital.

The Bill has also made provisions for formation of district or metropolitan grievance redressal committee, which will be headed by the CEO of Zilla panchayat, Superintendent of Police, a representative from a private hospital and others. The committee has the power of civil courts.