In 2019, the Government of India introduced a Consumer Protection Act in which “healthcare” was removed from a section that defines “service” provided by various facilities and businesses. However, the section indicates that the definition of service is not limited to the facilities and businesses mentioned. This generalized definition is especially confusing for medical professionals and leads them to question if healthcare comes under the Consumer Protection Act.
The act came into effect on July 24, 2020, replacing the earlier law (over three decades old), and is expected to go a long way in serving the consumers at large. Particularly, in times of the COVID-19 pandemic, disputes are likely to arise over the tawdry services rendered in certain segments of the healthcare sector. Highlights: To err is human: Not a deliberate act of negligence and greed for profiteering A delusional…
