NEW DELHI, SEP 16 (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday alleged that medical treatment is becoming increasingly expensive for the common person under the BJP government and demanded that the Centre conduct a national-level review of pricing, trade margins, and billing practices related to medical equipment in hospitals.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a screenshot of a media report which claimed that at private hospitals, patients are being forced to pay exorbitant prices not only for medicines but also for medical supplies.
“In the BJP government, treatment for the common person is becoming increasingly expensive, and now the issue is not just the arbitrary practices of hospitals, but also the accountability of government regulation,” Ramesh said in his post on X.
In the Maharashtra FDA investigation, an IV set costing Rs 11.05 was sold for Rs 325 — a staggering difference of 2,841 per cent, he said, adding that a catheter purchased for Rs 29.41 was charged to the patient at Rs 310.
“When a patient is admitted to a hospital, they neither have the power to determine prices nor the facility to choose an immediate alternative. In such a situation, such a massive price disparity on essential medical equipment is not merely a market issue — it is a question of public health and regulation,” Ramesh said.
He further said that the question is straightforward as to how long the helplessness of patients will be left unchecked in the name of market freedom.
The central government must immediately conduct a national-level review of the pricing, trade margins, and billing practices regarding medical equipment in hospitals, and ensure the implementation of a transparent and effective system, he said.
