The Maharashtra state government has directed hospitals and clinics to display the cost of treatments and other facilities in both Marathi and English so that it is easy for the patient and their family to decide upon a healthcare treatment.
A circular issued by the Public Health Department on Friday mentioned that all healthcare institutions are required to keep their price lists visible and update them in a timely manner whenever the rates of treatments or services are changed. This step was taken to keep patients informed about service charges.
According to the reports, when a few hospitals were contacted on Friday, they said that they haven’t received any such circular.
However, the rate-display requirement was already included in Maharashtra's Nursing Homes Registration Rules, 2021. The latest directive reiterates the requirement and calls for compliance monitoring.
Because the Maharashtra Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2026, is still being reviewed by a Joint Select Committee, the government chose not to wait for it to become law. The government issued the circular under the existing Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act and Rules, 2021.
In an interview with TOI, Dr. Abhay Shukla of the Jann Swasthya Abhiyan said that it is a positive step to bring transparency and clarity about hospital rates.
According to the notification, all hospitals must display their charges at visible locations in their facility. The rate list must also be accessible to anyone who visits the healthcare facility.
Schedule III of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Rules, 2021, specifies 15 categories of charges to be displayed at nursing homes. These include admission charges, daily bed and ICU charges, doctor and anaesthesia fees, operation theatre charges, nursing, intravenous infusion and transfusion, pathology, oxygen, radiology and sonography.
The notification states that the hospital reception must be completely functional, along with billing counters, enquiry counters and registration desks. The hospital staff also must help all the patients and their families to understand the information and costs of treatments to curb any confusion during billing.
Healthcare establishments that deal with foreign patients arriving on medical or AYUSH visas must communicate and display the rates that apply to foreign visa holders clearly. The directive comes in response to an October 12, 2026, communication from the Union Health Ministry.
According to the reports, civil surgeons, district health officers and municipal media officers have been asked to conduct periodic checks to ensure that all the hospitals are following the rules. If any healthcare establishment is found lacking, there can be legal consequences for it.
The pending Maharashtra Clinical Establishments Bill, introduced in the July monsoon session and currently under review by a bicameral Joint Select Committee, shares similar provisions.
According to Section 11 of the bill, hospitals must clearly mention their rates for principal services, facilities, procedures and investigations at a visible and accessible place on their premises. The rates are supposed to be displayed in Marathi, Hindi and English in a format that is directed by the government. The bill also states that establishments must publish the same rates on their official websites.
The proposed bill also mentions that the hospitals cannot charge more than what is displayed on their premises. Patients can demand an itemized bill and a detailed breakdown of charges.
However, displaying treatment rates does not establish standard prices or impose a general ceiling on hospital charges. The proposed legislation focuses on price disclosure and billing transparency, without prescribing standard or maximum rates for hospital services.
The Public Health Department said that the circular will ensure immediate implementation of the rate-display rule while the bill is on hold.
The official said, “The Bill has been sent to the Joint Select Committee and is expected to get a nod in December. The rules in accordance with the Act may take further time. The circular issued on Friday will help with immediate implementation.”
The former president of the Indian Medical Association, Dr. AnilKumar Nayak told HT in an interview that it is difficult to display the rate of every particular service because sometimes additional procedures are required during an ongoing treatment.
However, it is not stated in the circular whether patients can take any action if hospitals do not follow the rules.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
