Pune Municipal Corporation has ordered surprise inspections of private hospitals and clinics to check whether treatment rates and available facilities are prominently displayed in Marathi and English, a move aimed at improving billing transparency for patients.
The directive has been issued to all 15 PMC ward offices. According to a report by Pudhari, Pune has around 950 registered private hospitals and clinics, making the inspections a significant test of how effectively state rules on treatment charges are being implemented across the city.
Under the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949, registered hospitals must display information about treatment rates and available facilities in a location where patients can easily see it. The state government issued detailed directions in a circular dated October 16, according to the report.
The requirements are also set out in Schedule Three of the Maharashtra Nursing Home Registration Rules, 2021. Hospitals must prominently display their rate cards and update them immediately when charges change. The rules are intended to help patients and families understand the cost of treatment before or during hospitalisation and reduce disputes over bills.
PMC Assistant Health Officer Dr Suryakant Devkar has instructed ward medical officers to conduct surprise visits and verify compliance. The inspections will focus on whether hospitals are displaying the required information in both Marathi and English and whether the details are visible to patients.
The enforcement direction comes amid concerns over alleged excessive charges by private hospitals and disputes relating to medical bills. The Pudhari report said that although rules have been framed by the state government, their implementation remains in question.
Dr Abhijit More, a health worker associated with Jan Arogya Abhiyan, said that issuing an order alone would not be sufficient and that municipal officials needed to visit hospitals in person. He also called for compliance checks during the renewal of nursing home licences.
More further claimed that action against hospitals violating the rules has rarely been visible. His comments place the focus not only on the display of rate cards but also on the PMC’s ability to document violations and enforce penalties where required.
The ward offices have now been tasked with carrying out the surprise checks. The next stages will depend on the inspections, any violations identified and action taken by the civic authority against non-compliant establishments.
