Hospitals across Karnataka will be required to disclose the purchase price and maximum retail price (MRP) of medicines on patient bills from November 1, under new measures aimed at improving transparency in healthcare costs.
Announcing the decision in Bengaluru, Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said hospitals must include both prices in their bills and display medicine price lists in prominent locations, particularly near registration counters.
Khader expressed concern over the rising cost of healthcare, which he partly attributed to the growing presence of foreign investors in the sector.
“According to my observation, after foreign investors have entered the healthcare market, the prices have gone up tremendously. We will discuss and see what best can be done.”
The government is yet to finalise penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with the proposed requirements. “The punishment for violating the rules would be discussed,” Khader said.
Emphasising that the measures should not undermine the financial viability of private hospitals, he added, “We do not intend to push the healthcare business into loss, but some stringent rules and regulations will have to be put in place.”
The minister clarified that private hospitals would not be expected to match government hospital rates. Instead, pricing could reflect the facilities available and the level of treatment provided.
“We are not expecting the pricing at private hospitals to be on par with the price set at government hospitals, but the rates could be fixed based on the amenities provided and the level of treatment at the hospital,” Khader said.
Hospitals may also be asked to display the charges for major medical procedures on notice boards. Prices for other procedures could be maintained in a register for reference.
The Health Department plans to meet private hospital representatives soon to discuss and finalise the terms of the proposed measures.
The initiative is expected to help patients better understand medicine costs and hospital charges, while strengthening accountability in Karnataka’s healthcare sector.
(The above image is AI-generated/MTT)