3 weeks ago
Bengal clinical establishment commission chairperson's final prescription for health reform
A very important judge in West Bengal is retiring from his job.
His job was to make sure hospitals follow the rules.
He said that sometimes hospitals and insurance companies argue about money.
When they argue, patients end up having to pay extra money, which he thinks is not fair.
He heard about many problems, like patients being forced to take tests they did not want.
He also heard about a hospital keeping a patient's body because the family could not pay the bill.
He made a list of new rules to protect patients.
The rules would make hospitals show the bill every day so patients know what things cost.
He hopes the new government will accept these rules.
He wants treatment to never stop just because someone cannot pay right away.
Outgoing chairperson Justice (retired) Ashim Banerjee said patient complaints stem from a trust deficit between private hospitals and insurers.
The commission received complaints including disputed insurance payments, forced diagnostic tests, lack of billing transparency and hospitals refusing to release bodies over unpaid dues.
Draft regulations covering the patient journey from OPD visits to discharge and death have been submitted to Swasthya Bhavan.
Banerjee called it unethical for hospitals to make patients pay disputed bill amounts and said treatment should never stop for want of money or insurance approval.
The state health department notified the commission's reconstitution, and Banerjee urged the new government's 'zero-tolerance policy' to address these issues.
- Who
- Justice (retired) Ashim Banerjee, the outgoing chairperson of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission
- What
- Presented draft regulations covering the patient journey and highlighted complaints such as disputed insurance payments, forced diagnostic tests, lack of billing transparency and hospitals refusing to release bodies over unpaid dues
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- When
- Thursday, one day after the state health department notified the reconstitution of the commission
- Why
- To address the trust deficit between private hospitals and insurers and push a 'zero-tolerance policy' on patient rights violations
Key facts
- Chairperson
- Justice (retired) Ashim Banerjee
- Regulator
- West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission
- In charge since
- February 13, 2019
- Key complaints
- Disputed insurance payments, forced diagnostic tests, billing opacity, bodies held over unpaid dues
- Main proposal
- Draft regulations covering OPD to discharge/death, submitted to Swasthya Bhavan
- Billing proposal
- Detailed bill provided to patients every 24 hours
- Health department action
- Reconstitution of the commission notified on Wednesday
- Illustrative cases
- Deceased patient kept for 13 hours over unpaid bill; ventilator patient billed for 20 bottles of packaged water
Quotes
Justice (retired) Ashim Banerjee
Outgoing chairperson of West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission
“We have prepared draft regulations covering the journey of a patient — from visiting the OPD, admission and discharge to cases where a patient dies in a hospital. The draft has been submitted to Swasthya Bhavan. I hope the new government implements the regulations.”
telegraphindia.com
“If the insurance company has a problem with the bill raised by a hospital, why should the patient be made to pay?”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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