Hyderabad, January 5, 2026: A recent survey conducted by LocalCircles has highlighted continuing concerns about hospital billing transparency in Hyderabad, with a significant number of patients reporting that their medical bills lack clear and complete itemised details.
The findings come at a time when India has introduced a national standard aimed at simplifying and standardising hospital bills, raising questions about its on-ground adoption by healthcare facilities.
According to the survey, which included 1,826 respondents who had been hospitalised in the last three years, only 56 percent said they received bills with a complete itemised breakup. These bills clearly listed charges for medicines, consumables, room rent, procedures, diagnostics, and professional fees.
Another 28 percent of respondents reported receiving bills with only partial details, while 16 percent said their hospital bills showed only a lump-sum or package amount without explaining individual charges.
The results indicate that a substantial proportion of patients still struggle to understand what they are being charged for during hospitalisation.
Hospital bills are not just payment documents. They are medical and legal records that help patients understand the cost of care and verify services provided.
Transparent billing plays a key role in:
Helping patients and families track treatment-related expenses
Supporting insurance claims and reimbursements
Reducing billing disputes between hospitals and patients
Improving trust in healthcare institutions
Medical experts note that unclear billing can add to patient stress, especially during emergencies or prolonged hospital stays.
An itemised hospital bill clearly lists individual charges for medicines, procedures, diagnostics, room rent, and professional fees, helping patients understand costs, verify services, and avoid hidden or unjustified charges.
In 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards introduced Indian Standard IS 19493:2025, a national framework designed to bring uniformity to hospital bills across India.
Bills must be fully itemised and clearly worded
Charges must be categorised under medicines, consumables, diagnostics, procedures, services, and facilities
Bills should be easy to read in both physical and digital formats
Compliance with GST and legal norms is mandatory
Standardised terminology should be used to avoid confusion
The standard aims to make hospital billing more patient-friendly and reduce ambiguity around healthcare costs.
Despite the introduction of the national billing standard, the LocalCircles survey suggests that many hospitals in Hyderabad have not fully adopted these norms.
Low public awareness of the standard also appears to be a contributing factor. Patients who are unaware of their right to an itemised bill may not question unclear charges or request detailed explanations.
Healthcare observers note that voluntary standards often require stronger regulatory oversight and public awareness campaigns to ensure widespread compliance.
Patients and caregivers can request:
A complete itemised hospital bill
Clarification for any charge they do not understand
Separate listings for medicines, diagnostics, and professional fees
Digital copies of bills and payment receipts
Clear billing helps patients make informed decisions and protects them in case of disputes or insurance audits.
The survey also found strong public backing for stricter enforcement. Eighty-two percent of respondents said the government should make itemised hospital billing mandatory across all healthcare facilities.
Public health advocates say that mandatory adoption of standardised billing formats could improve accountability, strengthen patient rights, and create more transparency in healthcare pricing.
Hyderabad is one of India’s major healthcare hubs, with a mix of large corporate hospitals, smaller nursing homes, and specialty centres. The survey findings suggest that even in advanced urban healthcare markets, billing clarity remains uneven.
As healthcare costs continue to rise, experts emphasise that transparent billing is a critical component of patient-centred care, alongside clinical quality and safety.
(Rh/MSM)
