August – October 2010

Check Hospital pulse regularly to detect bogus claim: insurer told

The Economic Times, October 25, 2010
The government has asked health insurance companies to crack down on hospitals that raise false claims as it seeks to widen the scope of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana – the hugely successful public health insurance scheme for poor families. Detailed guidelines are being shared with insurance companies to make them more alert so that they can identify hospitals that resort to such fraudulent behaviour. More

Centre to make drug brand registration must

The Economic Times, October 21, 2010
The government plans to make it mandatory for drug makers to register their brands to avoid marketing of medicines used to treat different diseases under the same brand name There is a need to regulate the duplication of brands to avoid any confusion. More

Judging Doctors

The Hindu, September 27, 2010
The Supreme Court’s directive to the Medical Council of India to dispose off complaints against delinquent doctors in a fixed time frame is a welcome decision. If the MCI or DCI can form similar tribunals consisting of unbiased professional experts, there will be no need for consumer courts to deal with medical negligence. More

Government mulls state watchdog to tone up competition laws

The Financial Express, September 13, 2010
The Government is mulling setting up state competition regulators to look into issues pertaining to health and education that from a part of the ‘state list’. More

Cancer drugs may become cheaper

Business Standard, August 29, 2010
In a bid to bring some relief to cancer patients, the government is planning to regulate the price of prohibitively expensive oncology medication. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has identified around 70 anti-cancer drugs for detailed price analysis. More

Cancer drugs may become cheaper

Business Standard, August 29, 2010
In a bid to bring some relief to cancer patients, the government is planning to regulate the price of prohibitively expensive oncology medication. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has identified around 70 anti-cancer drugs for detailed price analysis. More

Chemicals ministry seeks to expand drug price control

Business Standard, August 21, 2010
The government will look into the 2006 draft Pharma policy and plan to expand the scope of price control to all drugs mentioned in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). More

A Healthy Measure

The Hindu, August 13, 2010
Clinical Establishment Bill has been passed by both the houses of The Parliament. Provided its objective is pursued sincerely, the legislation can go a long way in empowering patients to demand quality healthcare services from the providers. More

Government plans common healthcare standards

Livemint.com, August 10, 2010
The Ministry has mandated an expert panel to frame treatment protocol for a number of ailments that are expected to be implemented in the next three-four months More

A Regulator for Hospitals

Economic Times, August 10, 2010
To foster competition and cut costs, insurance companies are seeking government intervention to prevent hospitals from overcharging patients covered by health insurance policies. More

Cap profits on drugs

Times of India, August 9, 2010
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has suggested a series of measures (like increasing the number of drugs under price control, blanket cap on profit margins of all medicines, promotion of use of generic drugs, etc.) to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to the ordinary Indian. More