**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 927 regarding the mandatory display of medical charges by private hospitals, to be answered on December 5th, 2025. The response clarifies that while 'Health' is a State subject, the Government of India enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act) to ensure the registration and regulation of clinical establishments. States/UTs adopting the CE Act are primarily responsible for enforcing its provisions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibility for Mandatory Display of Medical Charges:**
* 'Health' is a State subject.
* Primary responsibility for ensuring mandatory display of medical charges by private hospitals rests with respective States/UTs.
* **Clinical Establishments Act (CE Act) and Rules:**
* Government of India enacted the CE Act in 2010 and notified the CE Rules in 2012.
* The CE Act aims to provide for the registration and regulation of both government (excluding Armed Forces) and private clinical establishments.
* Clinical establishments must meet minimum standards for each type of service provided, as per the CE Act.
* The CE Act has been adopted by 19 States/UTs.
* **Rule 9(i) of CE Rules:**
* Requires all clinical establishments to display rates charged for each service and facility.
* Rates should be displayed in a conspicuous place in both the local language and English.
* **Enforcement and Penalties:**
* States/UTs that have adopted the CE Act are primarily responsible for enforcing and implementing its provisions.
* The CE Act empowers a registering authority at the district level, chaired by the District Collector/District Magistrate, to take action against violations, including imposing penalties.
* The CE Act provides for cancellation of registration for non-compliance.
* **States/UTs Without CE Act Adoption:**
* Clinical establishments in States/UTs that have not adopted the CE Act are registered and regulated by the respective State Acts.
**Impact Analysis**
**States/Union Territories**
* **Impact:**
* The primary responsibility to enforce the mandatory display of medical charges within their jurisdiction. States/UTs which have adopted the CE Act must ensure its provisions, including Rule 9(i), are implemented effectively.
* **Action Required:**
* Ensure enforcement of the CE Act and Rules, including the mandatory display of medical charges. For those States/UTs who have not adopted the CE Act, they are required to follow local regulations.
**Private Hospitals/Clinical Establishments**
* **Impact:**
* Subject to the CE Act and Rules (in States/UTs that have adopted it) or relevant State Acts.
* Required to display rates for all services and facilities in a conspicuous location, in both local and English languages.
* Potential penalties, including cancellation of registration, for non-compliance.
* **Action Required:**
* Comply with Rule 9(i) of the CE Rules by displaying medical charges prominently.
**Patients**
* **Impact:**
* Improved transparency regarding medical charges, enabling informed decisions.
* Mechanism for grievance redressal through the registering authority at the district level.
* **Action Required:**
* Be aware of the displayed rates and report any discrepancies or violations to the relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act): Central Act providing for registration and regulation of clinical establishments, including provisions for mandatory display of medical charges. Adopted by some States/UTs.
Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 (CE Rules): Rules notified under the CE Act that mandate clinical establishments to display rates for services and facilities.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The central ministry responsible for health policy, including responding to questions about the mandatory display of medical charges by private hospitals.
States/UTs (India): Refers to the Indian states and union territories, which have primary responsibility for enforcing the mandatory display of medical charges, as ‘Health’ is a state subject.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 927
TOBE ANSWERED ON05TH DECEMBER, 2025
MANDATORYDISPLAYOFMEDICALCHARGES BYPRIVATE HOSPITALS
927. SHRISVENKATESAN:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
(a) whether the Government has taken note of the mandatory display of medical charges by
private hospitals inthe country;
(b) if so, the detailsthereofalong with the steps takenby the Government inthisregard;
(c)whether anystudy hasbeenconducted andanyreportsavailableinthisregard; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (d) : ‘Health’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility to take note of
mandatorydisplay of medical chargesbyprivate hospitals lies with the respective States/UTs.
Nonetheless, the Government of India enacted the Clinical Establishments
(Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (CE Act) and notified the Clinical Establishments
(Central Government) Rules, 2012 (CE Rules) to provide for registration and regulation of
Government (except those of Armed Forces) as well as private clinical establishments
belonging to recognized systems of medicine. As per CE Act, the clinical establishments are
requiredto fulfill the conditionsof minimumstandards for eachtype of service provided.The
CE Act hasbeenadoptedby19States/UTs (12States,viz.,Arunachal Pradesh,Assam, Bihar,
Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana,
Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh and 7 UTs, viz., Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh,
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep &
Puducherry).
Rule 9(i) of CE Rules stipulates that every clinical establishment shall display the
rates charged for each type of service provided and facilities available, for the benefit of the
patients at a conspicuous place in the local as well as in English language. ‘Health’ being a
State subject, the States / UTs which have adopted the CE Act are primarily responsible for
enforcing/implementing the provisions of the CE Act including the provision of display ofmedical charges in the respective States/UTs. The Act has empowered a registering authority
at the district level under the chairmanship of the District Collector / District Magistrate to
take actions including imposing penalties in respect of violation of its provisions. The Act
also provides for cancellation of registration, if the provisions of the Act are not complied
with. The clinical establishments inthe States/UTs, which have not adoptedand implemented
the CE Act, are registered andregulatedbythe respective StateActs.
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