82% respondents want National Healthcare Policy 2017 to cap private hospital charges: Survey

The new National Healthcare Policy 2017 launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has its main focus on bringing comprehensive universal wellness.

It seeks to ensure improved access and affordability of quality secondary and tertiary care services through a combination of public hospitals. Also, the policy proposes free drugs, free diagnostics and free emergency care services in all public hospitals.

But what about private hospitals? Isn't there any reform needed considering government hospital cover less than 20% of India's health care industry?

A survey carried out by LocalCircles Survey revealed that 82% Indian citizens want government to come out with proper regulations on private hospitals.

6% said, the policy will not make any difference.

There was a large portion of 85% citizen who said that they preferred private healthcare services compared to just 9% opting for government services.

When LocalCircles asked on biggest concern about healthcare services, 42% said that they do not trust the healthcare system in India and an equal 42% said that the rising costs in hospitals was a concern for them. 

9% said availability of healthcare services and 7% said rising cost of drugs and medicines was a cause of concern for them.

From private hospitals, 87% want government to standardize charges. The survey said, "India should standardized to a fixed price based on hospital star rating to increase transparency and trust in healthcare services."

Government for this policy has proposed to raise health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP in time bound manner.