Overcharging to invite a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh; hospitals cannot collect advance amount, can’t demand dues to hand over the body. The state government has introduced an amendment bill to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which will authorise the government to fix the rate or charge for each class of treatment provided in private hospitals. On Tuesday, Health Minister tabled the bill on the floor of the assembly.
The government has made a provision to impose a penalty of Rs 25,000 to Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of not less than six months that may extend to up to three years if a hospital is found charging more than the rate fixed by the government.The new rule will bar private hospitals from demanding advance payments for patients or the representatives of patients in case of emergency treatment. The state government is likely to face resistance…
