New Delhi: HL October 12, 2026
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged all States and Union Territories to ensure the prominent display of rates for healthcare services and facilities at clinical establishments, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency, protecting patients’ interests and reducing billing-related disputes.
Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava has written to the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs, calling for a review of compliance with applicable regulations and effective measures to ensure that healthcare charges are clearly visible and easily accessible to patients and their attendants.
Transparent Healthcare Pricing to Empower Patients
The initiative seeks to enable patients and their families to understand the likely cost of treatment, make informed healthcare decisions and plan their medical expenditure. Clear information about service charges is also expected to minimise confusion, prevent avoidable billing disputes and strengthen public trust in healthcare services.
The Ministry has emphasised that information regarding healthcare charges should be displayed at conspicuous locations within clinical establishments so that patients can access it without difficulty.
Legal Provisions for Display of Healthcare Charges
The communication refers to the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012. Under the applicable provisions, clinical establishments in States and UTs where the Act applies are required to display the rates charged for different services and the facilities available.
The information must be displayed prominently in both the local language and English for the benefit of patients and their attendants.
In States and UTs where the Central Act is not applicable, clinical establishments are regulated under the respective State or Union Territory frameworks. Several of these frameworks also contain provisions concerning the display of healthcare service rates.
Since health is a State subject, the responsibility for implementing and enforcing the applicable regulations rests with the respective States and UTs. The Union Health Secretary has therefore called upon the Chief Secretaries to ensure compliance through the concerned authorities.
Special Focus on International Patients and Medical Tourism
The Centre has also highlighted the need for greater transparency in healthcare pricing for international patients visiting India for treatment.
States and UTs have been requested to encourage the prominent display, wherever applicable, of package rates offered to foreign patients travelling to India on Medical or Ayush Visas.
The measure is intended to help international patients compare treatment options, make informed decisions and avoid pricing-related grievances. It also aims to strengthen India’s reputation as a trusted destination for medical treatment and Ayush healthcare services.
States Asked to Ensure Effective Implementation
The Union Health Secretary has sought the personal attention of the Chief Secretaries and requested them to issue appropriate advisories to the concerned authorities and clinical establishments.
The proposed measures include ensuring that healthcare rates are displayed at clearly visible, conspicuous and easily accessible locations in accordance with the applicable regulations.
The initiative reinforces the Government of India’s commitment to patient-centric healthcare delivery, with a focus on transparency, accountability and informed decision-making. By improving access to information about treatment costs, the Centre aims to make healthcare services more responsive to patients’ needs and strengthen trust between healthcare providers and the public.
