Bengaluru, Oct 22 The Karnataka government will decide on addressing excessive billing by private hospitals after consulting with health department officials, Health Minister U T Khader said on Thursday.
He said the government is committed to protecting patients from financial exploitation and ensuring a transparent and accountable healthcare system.
“Public interest and patient welfare remain our top priorities. No patient or family should face financial exploitation during a medical emergency,” the minister said in a post on ‘X’ following a meeting with the Private Hospitals Association here.
The meeting discussed measures to address rising medical expenses, protect patients’ interests and make quality healthcare more affordable and accessible.
“Further decisions on excessive billing by private hospitals will be taken after consultations with Health Department officials,” Khader said.
The minister said the government would also formulate a clear policy to ensure that hospitals do not withhold a patient’s body over unpaid bills.
Measures to reduce the cost of essential medicines used in cancer, cardiac and kidney care, and to curb unauthorised increases in maximum retail prices (MRP), were also discussed at the meeting, he said.
Khader said a meeting with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors would be convened soon to discuss the issue.
The government would also hold a separate meeting with insurance companies to address excessive billing for insured patients and simplify the insurance claims process, he added.
Representations submitted by private hospitals regarding issues involving the Fire Department, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act were also received, the minister said, adding that appropriate steps will be taken to address their concerns.
“Our commitment is clear — to ensure a transparent and accountable healthcare system that protects patients, prevents exploitation and makes quality healthcare more affordable and accessible to all,” Khader said.
The Minister also separately held a progress review meeting with the State Organ Transplant Advisory Committee.
“We have decided to form an Organ Transplant Visionary Committee under Dr Nagesh, Director, Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences & Organ Transplant (IGOT). It will recommend measures to raise public awareness and increase deceased donor organ transplants,” he said.
It will focus on brain death certification and organ retrieval in all district hospitals and government medical colleges; more transplant facilities in government hospitals; early launch of the new organ allocation and tracking software; and renewal of lapsed transplant centre registrations, among others.
Khader also launched “Aalisu Kanda” (Listen, Little One), the cochlear implant programme under Hearing Impairment-Free Karnataka Campaign.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to hear, speak, learn and thrive. Our Government provides free cochlear implant surgery for eligible children, Rs 50,000 for six months of auditory-verbal and speech therapy and Rs 500 per week to parents attending therapy with their children,” he said in a post on ‘X’.
Early identification, timely implantation and consistent rehabilitation are crucial to helping children develop communication skills and access mainstream education, he said.
“The health department will establish a digital registry to ensure continuity of care and track each child’s rehabilitation journey,” he added.
(PTI News)
