CB BureauEarly this month, India saw its state-owned health insurance firms withdrawing the cashless payment facility for treatment at hundreds of hospitals, on the ground that hospitals were over-charging customers who had health insurance policies.
The move forced the health ministry to take action and it has already mandated an expert panel to frame ‘treatment protocol’ for a number of ailments. The protocol is expected to be implemented in the next three-four months.
In a conversation with CauseBecause, a senior official at health ministry revealed: ‘There is a group of experts who are considering economical ways to standardize all hospitals and their procedure of treating several basic ailments. The ministry wants to ensure that the same ailment may not be treated in a different manner at different costs at various hospitals. Hence, common standards are being developed, and the centre is recommending state governments to ensure implementation of these standards. The move will ensure affordable and accountable healthcare services.’
It may be noted that patients who have medical insurance are often charged much higher fees than non-policyholders for any form of treatment. The enforcement of a standard treatment protocol will help minimize the scope for hospitals to overcharge patients by prescribing unnecessary and expensive tests.