Thiruvananthapuram, 01 Oct (H.S.):The Kerala government is considering legislation to regulate treatment charges at private hospitals following complaints of increases in medical expenses, particularly at institutions taken over by multinational companies.

The Health Department is examining the possibility of introducing a bill in the Assembly. As a preliminary step, the government has constituted a committee headed by the department’s principal secretary and sought a report on the proposed move.

The plan comes amid concerns over the growing acquisition of private hospitals by corporate groups. According to information cited in the proposal, around 70 per cent of people in the state continue to depend on private hospitals for treatment, making the sector attractive to multinational companies.

The Health Department has received numerous complaints alleging substantial increases in treatment costs after such acquisitions. Doctors’ organisations have also submitted representations to the government, warning that these developments could adversely affect Kerala’s healthcare sector.

Against this backdrop, the government is exploring measures to bring control over hospital charges and ease the financial burden on patients seeking private medical care.

The proposed legislation is expected to cover treatment rates for different illnesses, room rents and other hospital charges. However, the details of the regulatory framework are yet to be finalised, with the committee’s recommendations expected to guide further action.

Observations by the Supreme Court regarding treatment charges in private hospitals are also understood to have influenced the government’s consideration of a legislative intervention.

The committee has been tasked with providing advice on taking the proposal forward. Its report will help the Health Department assess the scope of the bill and the areas in which charges could be regulated.

The initiative remains at the consultation stage, with the government seeking recommendations before proceeding with legislation aimed at addressing complaints over treatment costs across the state’s private hospital sector.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman