Law to End Exploitation of Patients Sought

Council members from all parties on Monday urged the government to pass a law to regulate rates charged by nursing homes and medical institutions for various services.

BANGALORE: Council members from all parties on Monday urged the government to pass a law to regulate rates charged by nursing homes and medical institutions for various services.

The members said these institutions are fleecing people.

The issue came up during question hour when Health Minister U T Khader said the government has slapped show-cause notices on 709 nursing homes and hospitals run by private operators for failing to comply with the order to display the list of services and rates.

BJP member Tara Anuradha, who raised the issue, said that in the absence of any regulatory laws, nursing homes and medical hospitals are charging patients exorbitant rates.

The minister informed the House that under the Karnataka Private Medical Institutions Act, 25,028 medical institutions have registered with the Department of Health Services. There are around 1,628 which are yet to be registered, he said.

Stressing that the medical institutions have to display the rate list for the services they are providing, he said only 11,378 hospitals have complied with the order.

The department has slapped show-cause notices on those which have failed to comply, Khader said.

The Minister promised to explore the possibility of enacting a law  to protect the people from exploitation.