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Central Government's directive to private hospitals: Costs and risks must be disclosed before putting patients on ventilators
New Delhi: The central government has taken an important step to curb the financial exploitation occurring in private hospitals in the name of ICU and ventilators. Now, hospitals will have to obtain written consent from the patient's relatives before placing a patient on a ventilator. It has also been made mandatory to provide complete information about the potential cost of treatment, the need for a ventilator, its benefits, risks, and the likely duration of its use.
According to the new guidelines issued by the government, the daily cost of ICU and ventilator services must be clearly stated. This information must be displayed at the hospital's billing counter, outside the ICU, and on the website. Ventilator billing will only be for the actual duration of use – the cost cannot be added when the machine is switched off.
In addition, hospitals are required to establish a grievance redressal mechanism and maintain a complete record of treatment outcomes, mortality rates, and ventilator usage. Failure to comply with these rules may result in action being taken.
The government says that this decision will prevent patients' relatives from being shocked by unexpectedly large bills and will increase transparency in the private healthcare sector.
New Delhi: The central government has taken an important step to curb the financial exploitation occurring in private hospitals in the name of ICU and ventilators. Now, hospitals will have to obtain written consent from the patient's relatives before placing a patient on a ventilator. It has also been made mandatory to provide complete information about the potential cost of treatment, the need for a ventilator, its benefits, risks, and the likely duration of its use.
According to the new guidelines issued by the government, the daily cost of ICU and ventilator services must be clearly stated. This information must be displayed at the hospital's billing counter, outside the ICU, and on the website. Ventilator billing will only be for the actual duration of use – the cost cannot be added when the machine is switched off.
In addition, hospitals are required to establish a grievance redressal mechanism and maintain a complete record of treatment outcomes, mortality rates, and ventilator usage. Failure to comply with these rules may result in action being taken.
The government says that this decision will prevent patients' relatives from being shocked by unexpectedly large bills and will increase transparency in the private healthcare sector.
According to the new guidelines issued by the government, the daily cost of ICU and ventilator services must be clearly stated. This information must be displayed at the hospital's billing counter, outside the ICU, and on the website. Ventilator billing will only be for the actual duration of use – the cost cannot be added when the machine is switched off.
In addition, hospitals are required to establish a grievance redressal mechanism and maintain a complete record of treatment outcomes, mortality rates, and ventilator usage. Failure to comply with these rules may result in action being taken.
The government says that this decision will prevent patients' relatives from being shocked by unexpectedly large bills and will increase transparency in the private healthcare sector.
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