From The Hindu · V. Kamalakara Rao · · 1m 30s
Andhra Pradesh urged to fix hospital billing
Patient advocates demand transparent, itemised bills for medicines and medical devices across all hospitals in the state.
In brief
Patient advocates demand transparent, itemised bills for medicines and medical devices across all hospitals in the state. The Praja Arogya Vedika has urged Andhra Pradesh to mandate transparent, itemised hospital billing to protect patients from hidden costs and excessive markups. Originally reported by The Hindu.
Patient group demands billing reform
The Praja Arogya Vedika has urged Andhra Pradesh to mandate transparent, itemised billing for medicines, medical devices, surgical items, and consumables across all government and private hospitals.
Healthcare costs burden families
In a representation to Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, PAV president Dr.M.V.Ramanaiah and general secretary T.Kameshwar Rao said soaring healthcare expenditures impose severe financial burden on families undergoing prolonged treatment, surgeries, or cancer care.
Patients kept in the dark
The forum pointed out that patients lack transparency regarding procurement costs, maximum retail prices, and final charges billed through hospital-designated pharmacies, leaving them unaware of true costs.
Other states lead the way
Maharashtra mandated prominent displays of medical service rates following Union Health Ministry directives. Karnataka directed hospital pharmacies to display landing prices and maximum retail prices on bills.
Ten-point charter of demands
The PAV requests itemised bills detailing product names, generic or brand names, quantities, unit prices, landing base procurement prices, printed maximum retail prices, and actual patient charges for all items.
Monitoring and enforcement needed
The PAV called for establishing robust monitoring, inspection, and accessible grievance-redressal mechanisms to investigate complaints regarding excessive markups and collaborate with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
What matters most
The Praja Arogya Vedika has urged Andhra Pradesh to mandate transparent, itemised hospital billing to protect patients from hidden costs and excessive markups.
