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Context :
No More Free Services at State Run
Hospitals ; Govt announces New Rates … ToI .. 05 Feb 2026
Context :
MP Ajeet Gopchade moves bill to regulate medical
prices … ET … 09 Feb 2026
===================================================
My Take :
Some 8 years ago , I sent to our Cabinet Ministers
, following E mail :
> Modicare
: A Game Changer …………………………. 01 Feb 2018
Dear Shri J P Naddji
Health Minister [ india-hfm@gov.in
]
While welcoming the bill introduced by
Shri Ajeet Gopchade, I urge you to also consider the following draft
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.ai
/ www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.YourContentCreator.in / 14 Feb
2026
BILL
to
provide for the regulation, transparency and rationalisation of prices charged by
hospitals and healthcare establishments; to establish a statutory authority for
standardisation and oversight of medical charges; to protect patients from
overcharging; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the
Seventy-Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
THE NATIONAL HEALTHCARE PRICING TRANSPARENCY
AND PATIENT PROTECTION BILL, 2026
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
Healthcare affordability in India has emerged as a matter of grave national
concern. Despite the enactment of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and
Regulation) Act, 2010, there exists no statutory authority mandated specifically to
regulate, rationalise or standardise medical charges across public and private
healthcare establishments.
In the absence of a uniform and transparent pricing framework, hospitals and
allied establishments levy widely divergent and often non-transparent charges for
similar procedures, diagnostics, room rent, implants, medicines and consumables.
Such practices have resulted in substantial out-of-pocket expenditure, financial
distress, and erosion of equitable access to healthcare, which forms an integral
component of the right to life under Article 21 of the
Constitution.
This
Bill seeks to:
1. Establish an
independent National Healthcare Pricing Authority.
2. Notify a National
Schedule of Standard Medical Charges.
3. Mandate transparent
public disclosure of approved rates.
4. Introduce compulsory
digital itemised billing.
5. Create a National
Health Billing Registry for oversight.
6. Provide for automatic refunds and graded penalties in cases of
overcharging.
7. Enable anonymised
health data analytics for public interest planning.
The Bill aims to promote fairness, transparency, accountability and affordability in
the healthcare ecosystem of India.
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the National Healthcare Pricing Transparency and
Patient Protection Act, 2026.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions
In
this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
(a) “Authority” means the National Healthcare Pricing Authority established under
section 3;
(b) “Clinical establishment” shall have the meaning assigned under the Clinical
Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010;
(c) “Medical charge” includes consultation fees, diagnostic charges, procedure
charges, room rent, implant costs, medicines, consumables and any other fee
charged for healthcare services;
(d) “National Schedule” means the National Schedule of Standard Medical Charges
notified under section 6;
(e) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
CHAPTER II
ESTABLISHMENT
OF NATIONAL HEALTHCARE PRICING AUTHORITY
3. Constitution of Authority
(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, establish an Authority to be
known as the National Healthcare Pricing Authority (NHPA).
(2)
The Authority shall consist of—
(a) a Chairperson, being a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India;
(b) one member having expertise in health economics;
(c) one member having experience in public health administration;
(d) one member having expertise in cost accounting and audit;
(e) one member having expertise in digital health systems;
(f) one representative of patient welfare organisations.
(3)
The terms and conditions of service shall be as prescribed.
4. State Authorities
State Governments shall constitute corresponding State Healthcare Pricing
Authorities to implement and monitor compliance within their respective
jurisdictions.
CHAPTER III
REGULATION
AND STANDARDISATION OF MEDICAL CHARGES
5. Powers and functions of Authority
The
Authority shall—
(a) frame, notify and periodically revise a National Schedule of Standard Medical
Charges;
(b) determine maximum permissible charges for specified medical services;
(c) standardise billing formats;
(d) monitor compliance;
(e) adjudicate complaints relating to overcharging;
(f) recommend policy measures to Government.
6. National Schedule of Standard Medical Charges
(1) The Authority shall notify a National Schedule specifying maximum permissible
charges for medical services.
(2) The Schedule shall be reviewed annually or as necessary.
(3) No clinical establishment shall charge in excess of the maximum rate
specified.
7. Mandatory public disclosure
Every
clinical establishment shall—
(a) prominently display approved rates at entrance and billing counters;
(b) publish such rates on its official website;
(c) provide itemised electronic bills containing service codes and rate
references;
(d) issue digital receipts for all payments.
CHAPTER IV
DIGITAL
BILLING AND REGISTRY
8. National Health Billing Registry
(1) The Central Government shall establish a National Health Billing Registry.
(2) All clinical establishments shall upload billing data in such format and
manner
as prescribed.
(3) The Registry shall ensure tamper-resistant digital storage and oversight.
9. Integration with Public Health Schemes
(1) Beneficiaries under Government health schemes may be issued digital health
identification linked to approved identity systems, subject to applicable privacy
laws.
(2) Payments under Government schemes shall be made directly to service
providers through digital transfer.
(3) No cash reimbursement shall be permitted where prohibited under scheme
guidelines.
CHAPTER V
PATIENT
PROTECTION AND PENALTIES
10. Prohibition of overcharging
No clinical establishment shall levy any charge exceeding the maximum prescribed
under the National Schedule.
11. Refund and compensation
(1) Any excess amount charged shall be refunded within fifteen days.
(2) Failure to refund shall attract interest as prescribed.
12. Penalties
(1) For first contravention, penalty may extend to five times the excess amount
charged.
(2) Repeated contraventions may result in suspension or cancellation of
registration.
(3) Wilful and fraudulent overcharging may invite prosecution under applicable
laws.
13. Whistleblower protection
Any person reporting fraudulent billing practices in good faith shall be protected in
accordance with prescribed rules.
CHAPTER VI
MISCELLANEOUS
14. Annual audit
Hospitals
exceeding prescribed turnover shall undergo annual cost audit.
15. Power to make rules
The
Central Government may, by notification, make rules to carry out the provisions
of this Act.
16. Overriding effect
The
provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent
therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force.
COMPARISON TABLE
Healthcare Pricing Reform Proposals (2026)
|
Parameter |
MP
Ajeet Gopchade Bill (as reported) |
My Draft Bill: National Healthcare Pricing Transparency & Patient
Protection Bill, 2026 |
|
Primary Objective |
Establish National Medical Pricing & Regulation
Commission |
Comprehensive pricing regulation + digital
transparency + patient protection |
|
Regulatory Body |
National Medical Pricing & Regulation Commission |
National Healthcare Pricing Authority (NHPA) + State
Authorities |
|
Chairperson |
Retired Supreme Court Judge |
Retired Supreme Court Judge |
|
State-Level
Structure |
State & UT Commissions chaired by retired High
Court Judges |
State Healthcare Pricing Authorities (implementation
+ monitoring) |
|
Scope of
Regulation |
Fix and regulate medical charges |
Fix maximum charges + standardise billing + regulate
room rent, implants, medicines, diagnostics, pregnancy services |
|
Price
Transparency |
Mandatory public disclosure of approved rates |
Mandatory display at entrance, billing counter,
website + service code reference on each bill |
|
Digital Billing
Mandate |
Not explicitly detailed |
Compulsory itemised electronic billing with digital
authentication ID |
|
Central Data
System |
Not specified |
National Health Billing Registry (NHBR) |
|
Technology
Architecture |
Commission-based regulatory model |
Digital-first regulatory architecture
(tamper-resistant registry) |
|
Big Data
Analytics |
Not mentioned |
Permits anonymised data analytics for disease
prediction & cost trend monitoring |
|
Automatic Refund
Mechanism |
Complaint adjudication |
Mandatory refund within 15 days + interest + graded
penalties |
|
Grievance
Redressal |
Commission empowered to adjudicate complaints |
Authority adjudication + automatic financial remedy |
|
Penalty Framework |
Enforcement through penalties |
Graded penalties + license suspension + prosecution
for fraud |
|
Integration with
Ayushman Bharat / Public Schemes |
Not specified |
Digital identity integration + DBT-only payments + no
cash reimbursement |
|
Cashless
Enforcement Model |
Not detailed |
Explicit digital transfer system to prevent fraud |
|
Public Hospitals
Coverage |
Not clearly stated |
Explicit uniform pricing mandate for State-run
hospitals |
|
Whistleblower
Protection |
Not mentioned |
Included |
|
Cost Audit
Requirement |
Not specified |
Annual cost audit for large hospitals |
|
Transparency
Depth |
Regulatory oversight |
Real-time transparency + digital traceability |
|
Structural
Philosophy |
Judicial oversight model |
Judicial oversight + digital governance model |
|
Preventive Dimension |
Focus on price control |
Price control + systemic transparency + fraud
prevention |
|
Political
Positioning |
Consumer protection & affordability |
Consumer protection + Digital India + Health Data
Governance |
Related Past E
mails to Cabinet Ministers :
The Bounty of Big
Data [ 30 April 2016 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-bounty-of-big-data.html
3 D -Digital Delivery of Drugs
? [ 11 Oct 2015 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/10/3-d-digital-delivery-of-drugs.html
Online Sale of Medicines ? [ 24 Dec 2016 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/online-sale-of-medicines.html
Health Care through Mobile ? [ 24 Nov 2016 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/11/health-care-through-mobile.html
A Mobile App named " BANMALI
" [ 16 Sept 2016 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/09/a-mobile-app-named-banmali.html
BANMALI is the TOTAL SOLUTION [ 14 Nov 2016 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/11/banmali-is-total-solution.html
Saving 1.2 million Kids [ 29 June 2016 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/06/saving-12-million-kids.html
Can Akshay Patra Banish Malnutrition
? [ 05 June 2017 ]
https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/06/can-akshay-patra-banish-malnutrition.html
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