NEW DELHI: Supreme Court intervention to curb exorbitant treatment charges in private hospitals. The Supreme Court directed that the central government should fix a standard rate. The court's directive is to compare the rates of private and government hospitals.

The Supreme Court also warned that if a solution is not found, it will have to order the private hospitals to set the treatment rates fixed under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

A bench headed by Justice BR Gavai observed that while a cataract surgery costs up to Rs 10,000 in a government hospital, it is between Rs 30,000 and Rs 140,000 in private hospitals. The court pointed out that healthcare is a fundamental right. The Union Health Secretary should issue a notification within one month in consultation with the State Health Secretaries. The central government replied that despite sending several letters to the state governments on the issue of treatment charges, there was no positive response. The court held that the central government cannot shirk its responsibility as it is a matter related to the constitutional rights of the citizens. The matter will be heard again on April 6.

The court was hearing a public interest petition filed by a voluntary organization called Veterans Forum for Transparency in Public Life citing the huge difference in treatment charges in government and private hospitals. The petitioners demanded that the treatment fee should be imposed as per the Clinical Establishment Rules, 2012. Surgeries may be charged based on their complications. The organization also demanded that if the state governments do not cooperate in deciding the standard rate, the central government should use its authority to fix the treatment fee.