Imagine you’re at a shop buying a chocolate bar. The price tag says $1, but when you get to the counter, the cashier charges you $5 because they claim you used a “premium napkin” and “special air” while standing in the aisle.

That’s essentially what is happening in many of India’s private hospitals today. Here is a breakdown of why this is happening and why it’s a big deal.

1. The “Invisible” Bill Padding

When someone is sick in the hospital, their family is usually worried and scared. They aren’t going to count every single glove or syringe the doctor uses. Hospitals know this, so they add extra items to the bill.

• Small items, big profits: Things like masks, needles, and bandages don’t cost much individually, but hospitals sometimes charge 1,700% more than what they actually cost.
• Extra Tests: Sometimes, hospitals run medical tests that the patient doesn’t even need, just to add more numbers to the final total.

2. Two Prices for the Same Surgery

A recent investigation found a “dual pricing” system.

• If you have insurance, the hospital charges a lower, pre-agreed price.
• If you are paying with your own savings, the hospital might charge you 30% more for the exact same treatment.

It’s like two students buying the same notebook, but the shopkeeper charges one student more just because they aren’t part of a “discount club.”

3. Why Doesn’t the Government Stop It?

This is the part that makes people frustrated. Even though the government knows this is happening, the rules are very weak:

• The “Voluntary” Problem: Last year, some standards for billing were created, but the government made them “voluntary.” That means hospitals can choose to follow them or just ignore them.
• Missing Laws: There is a law called the Clinical Establishments Act designed to regulate hospitals, but big cities like Delhi haven’t even started using it yet.
• The 80% Factor: Private hospitals handle about 80% of India’s healthcare. Because the government hasn’t built enough high-quality public hospitals, they rely on these private ones—which makes them hesitant to be too strict.

Why this matters to everyone

Whether a family is rich or middle-class, one big hospital bill can wipe out years of savings. In the worst cases, some hospitals even refuse to let a patient go home until every single penny of an unfair bill is paid.

It’s a system where “making money” has become more important than “getting better.”

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