In a major move aimed at improving transparency in medical billing and preventing overcharging of patients, hospitals and diagnostic laboratories across Karnataka will be required to display both the purchase price and selling price of medicines on patient bills from November 1, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader announced.
The initiative is intended to ensure that patients know the price at which hospitals procure medicines and the amount they are charged, thereby promoting greater transparency in healthcare billing. Speaking on Saturday, Minister Khader said that hospital bills must clearly mention both the medicine purchase price and the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
He noted that the lack of transparency in medicine pricing has raised concerns over excessive charges being levied on patients, particularly for costly treatments such as cancer care. Khader warned that hospitals found violating the new rules would face legal action.
Move Aims to Protect Patients from Overcharging:
“Patients have the right to know the price at which medicines are purchased and the price at which they are sold. Displaying this information will bring greater transparency and help prevent unfair billing practices,” the minister said.
Health Minister further stated that the new regulation will apply to hospitals and selected diagnostic laboratories from November 1. Making pricing information publicly available will help patients better understand their treatment costs and question any discrepancies in their medical bills.
Highlighting the financial burden faced by patients, the minister said that families not only endure the pain of illness but also struggle with the rising cost of healthcare. He urged hospitals, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to work together to make quality medical treatment more affordable and accessible to the public.
The Karnataka government has also intensified its crackdown on the manufacture and sale of counterfeit medicines across the state. Several fake medicines have already been seized during enforcement drives.
In connection with the counterfeit drug racket allegedly operated by Krupa Health Care, Omkareshwar, Assistant Drug Controller of Circle-1, has been suspended for allegedly failing to take action against the illegal activities.
The state government has announced that it is considering stricter legal provisions to curb the sale of counterfeit medicines. The Karnataka Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also planning to permanently blacklist pharmaceutical manufacturers found producing substandard, counterfeit, or mislabelled medicines.
