The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana government to reimburse ₹7.42 lakh, along with 6 percent annual interest, to an 85-year-old patient while criticising alleged overbilling practices by private hospitals. The court observed that hospitals cannot attract patients through low treatment package rates and later inflate bills through charges for medicines, consumables and essential procedures.
Treatment Estimate Rose Several Times
The case relates to an elderly patient who underwent treatment for coronary artery disease at a private hospital in Panchkula in April 2023. According to the petition, the hospital had initially informed the family that the angiography and angioplasty package would cost around ₹1.05 lakh, while a separate rotablation package was priced at ₹30,000.
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The final bill, however, allegedly included an additional ₹6.02 lakh under medicines and consumables, raising the total expenditure to ₹7.42 lakh. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the hospital administration had assured the family that most admission and procedural expenses would be covered within the package amount.
The petitioner’s side submitted that the discharge bill was several times higher than the original estimate. Taking note of the allegation, the court raised concern over billing practices followed by private healthcare institutions.
Court Flags Artificial Pricing
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar observed that healthcare policies are meant to preserve human life and cannot be reduced to rigid technicalities or opaque billing mechanisms. The court said the authorities appeared to have followed the “letter” of the policy while ignoring its true spirit and objective.
The High Court directed the Director General Health Services, Haryana, to verify package rates offered by all empanelled private hospitals in the state. The court said authorities must ensure that hospitals are not advertising low treatment packages and later burdening patients with excessive charges for essential procedures and consumables.
The court also warned that hospitals found violating policy norms could face corrective action, including cancellation of licences.
Transparency In Medical Billing Stressed
The High Court stressed the need for transparency in billing and informed consent. It directed authorities to ensure that treatment costs are properly explained to patients or their relatives in a language they understand, instead of merely obtaining signatures on pre-printed forms.
The court said patients must clearly know which services are covered under a package and under what circumstances additional charges may arise.
In another observation, the High Court asked the DGHS to consider including intravascular lithotripsy, an advanced technique used in coronary artery disease treatment, within standard state package rates. It noted that as modern medical technologies become more common, healthcare package policies should be periodically updated to prevent unnecessary financial burden on patients.
The DGHS has been directed to complete the verification and policy review exercise and submit a compliance report before the court within three months.
