Standardisation of hospital charges is impractical: Private hospital owners to join as party in case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the Supreme Court directed the Centre to fix a standard rate for hospital treatment and procedures to prevent private hospitals from charging excessive rates, the Kerala Private Hospitals Association decided to join as a party in the case. The association will point out in the Supreme Court that standardisation of rates is impractical. Hospitals will not be able to go ahead if the rates of hospitals with different treatment facilities are standardised. The association said that it will inform the court about the impracticability of the standardisation of treatment charges by explaining matters, including the situation in Kerala, which is the leader in the country in the field of health.

The state health department is also waiting for the Supreme Court's further action on the matter. The managements of the private hospitals asked the government that the state should also join as a party and express its position in the case. Although an attempt was made in 2016 to standardise treatment charges in the state, it was not successful. This was after the discussion on matters, including the impracticability of standardisation.