Outreach with Immense Consequences

SC has warned about notifying CGHS rates as an interim measure unless the government acts In a PIL filed by an NGO, “Veterans Forum for Transparency in Public Life”, through its General Secretary Wing Commander (Retd) Bishwanath Prasad Singh, the petitioner has requested for rates of fees chargeable from the patients in line with the Clinical Establishment Rules, 2012. According to the NGO, the central government has notified the hospital rates, which are applicable to the CGHS-empaneled hospitals. Hence, the NGO states that until a solution is found by the central government regarding the rates of fees chargeable in line with the Clinical Establishment Rules, CGHS rates should be levied across hospitals in India as an interim measure. Out of the 28 states and 8 UTs, we highlight the CEA has been adopted by just 12 states and 7 UTs. Thus, this diktat likely cannot be implemented in the remaining states and the union territory of Delhi. According to the CEA, the central government cannot determine hospital rates unless there is a response from the state governments and UTs. As per the central government, while there have been various attempts in the past, there has not been any response from state governments and UTs. In response, the SC has stated that the central government cannot shirk responsibility by merely stating that state governments are not responding. As a result, the SC has directed the Secretary, Department of Health, to hold a meeting with his counterparts in state governments and UTs, and come up with a concrete proposal by the next date of hearing, which is scheduled after six weeks. The SC has agreed with the petitioner’s plea to notify CGHS rates as an interim measure until a concrete solution is found. Accordingly, the SC has said that if the central government does not come out with a concrete proposal by the next date of hearing in six weeks, it will levy CGHS rates in the interim across hospitals....excerpts from a report issued by Kotak Securities.