Bangalore, Jul 1: Expressing concern over heavy medical fees in private hospitals, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said that the state government will explore the possibility of controlling such fees through health department.

He said that the State government will explore whether it was legally possible for the health department to regulate the rates for various medical procedures and facilities charged by private hospitals, labs, medical related units.
The minister, however, said that at present there is no provision to regulate the rates in private hospitals. “We will explore whether amendments can be brought to the Karnataka Private Medical?Establishments Act, 2007 to regulate the rate charged by private hospitals,” he said.
The Act aims at regulating private medical establishments, including diagnostic centres, health clubs and alternative medicine centres to ensure that people get quality healthcare.
The minister informed the House that as many as 3,622 private hospitals, blood banks, labs and other medical-related units have violated norms of by not displaying the rates charged for various medical procedures and facilities.
That 's not all. As many as 1,628 medical establishments have not even registered themselves which is mandatory under the provisions of the KPME?Act.
Mr Khader also said his department would take steps to ensure all medical establishments are registered within three months. Show cause notices had been served on 709 establishments, he said.



Comments
Add new comment