Maharashtra has directed private hospitals, clinics and other medical establishments across the state to prominently display the rates of medical services and facilities in Marathi and English, with administrative and legal action possible for institutions that fail to comply.
The directive was issued by the state public health department through a Government Resolution (GR) on Friday, according to a report by news agency PTI. It requires hospitals to display the rates specified under Schedule III of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Rules, 2021, at locations that are clearly visible and accessible to everyone visiting the premises.
The government said the requirement is intended to improve transparency in healthcare services, help patients and their relatives understand likely treatment costs in advance, and reduce confusion and complaints over hospital bills. The displayed rate list must be updated immediately whenever charges are revised.
Hospitals have also been instructed to provide adequate information about applicable service charges and treatment package costs. Staff at registration desks, enquiry counters and billing counters must guide patients and their relatives about the availability of the rate lists and the charges that apply to medical services.
The directive applies to private hospitals, clinics and other medical establishments covered by the relevant nursing homes rules. Hospitals treating foreign patients who have travelled to India on medical or Ayush visas must additionally display the special package rates applicable to those patients, the GR stated.
The public health department said the display of hospital service rates was already mandatory. The latest resolution follows instructions issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on October 12, according to the report. The new state-level direction sets out how hospitals are expected to present the information and places responsibility on local authorities to communicate and monitor compliance.
District civil surgeons and district and municipal health officers have been instructed to inform private hospitals and other medical establishments in their jurisdictions about the directive. These authorities must also ensure its effective implementation and periodically review compliance with Schedule III of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Rules, 2021.
The GR directs competent authorities responsible for hospital registration, regulation and supervision to initiate administrative and legal action against establishments found violating the requirements. The resolution does not specify in the supplied report the nature or amount of penalties that may apply in individual cases.
For patients, the measure creates a formal requirement that key pricing information be available before or during treatment rather than only at the billing stage. Its implementation will depend on whether hospitals keep the displayed lists current, make them easy to locate and ensure that registration and billing staff explain applicable charges when patients or their relatives seek clarification. The district and municipal health authorities are now responsible for communicating the directive and reviewing compliance.
