Mangaluru: DYFI state secretary Santhosh Bajal has criticised Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader over the regulation of treatment charges in private hospitals, accusing the government of failing to effectively enforce the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act despite the legislation being in force since 2007.
Bajal said the minister’s recent decision to read out provisions of the existing Act to the media appeared to be an attempt to mislead the public at a time when people continue to struggle with high medical expenses and alleged exploitation by private hospitals.
He argued that reiterating the provisions of a long-standing law would not address the difficulties faced by patients unless the government demonstrated the political will to enforce the regulations strictly.
“The Act exists and the rules exist, but does the government have the political willpower to strictly enforce them? That is the real question today,” Bajal said.
DYFI questions enforcement of KPME Act
The KPME Act provides a regulatory framework for private hospitals and clinics in Karnataka, with several amendments introduced over the years. However, Bajal said the continued concerns over treatment costs indicated that the government had not succeeded in ensuring effective regulation of private healthcare establishments.
According to him, patients continue to face varying charges for the same treatment at different hospitals, unaffordable medical bills and unnecessary diagnostic tests. He also pointed to complaints about bills continuing to mount until patients are discharged.
Bajal said these issues place a significant financial burden on ordinary families, particularly those who depend on private hospitals for treatment.
He maintained that the government must go beyond public statements about the law and disclose the action taken against establishments that allegedly violate the prescribed regulations.
“Rather than merely reading out legal provisions to the media, the health minister must inform the public about the concrete steps taken against hospitals violating these regulations,” he said.
He added that identifying malpractice through statements was not enough, stressing that enforcement and accountability were the government’s responsibility.
Minister urged to act on treatment price lists
Bajal also recalled DYFI’s campaigns in Dakshina Kannada, which began in 2015, to demand that private hospitals display treatment price lists prominently. The organisation had visited private hospitals as part of its campaign and called for the demand to be implemented across Karnataka.
He said the demand was intended to improve transparency in healthcare charges and help patients understand the costs involved in treatment.
According to Bajal, the issue was not new, and the government had been aware of the demand for years. He questioned why the minister had not ensured a comprehensive solution despite having held the health portfolio during the period when the campaign was underway.
“You were the health minister back then as well. If a full solution to this legitimate public demand could not be provided from then until now, what benefit do current statements bring?” he asked.
Bajal urged the minister to ensure that the requirement to display treatment charges was implemented on the ground instead of presenting DYFI’s longstanding demand as a new proposal.
Calls for accountability in private healthcare
The DYFI leader said the government needed to demonstrate that the existing regulatory framework was being applied effectively to private hospitals and clinics. He argued that patients should not have to bear the consequences of inconsistent charges and alleged unfair practices while the relevant legislation remained in force.
He reiterated that the priority should be concrete measures to regulate treatment costs, improve transparency and take action against hospitals found violating applicable rules.
Bajal’s remarks place the focus on the implementation of the KPME Act and the government’s responsibility to address public concerns over the affordability of private healthcare. His criticism centres on the gap between the existence of regulations and their effective enforcement, particularly in relation to treatment price lists and hospital billing practices.
The DYFI leader called on the health minister to move beyond statements about the law and deliver tangible measures that would help patients access treatment at transparent and regulated costs.