In response to the affidavit, States have repeatedly raised issues. A uniform pricing framework, they are saying, could not account for India’s regional variety in healthcare prices. It might additionally compromise high quality of care, and will discourage funding in medical analysis and innovation.
The Centre famous that ninteen states and Union Territories have adopted the central Act thus far. Seventeen others have their very own separate scientific institution legal guidelines. Most of those require hospitals to show their charges, however don’t present for any government-determined vary of charges.
The Centre additionally pointed to a variety of current authorities well being schemes, together with Ayushman Bharat, as proof that healthcare affordability was already being addressed via different means. It famous that out-of-pocket well being expenditure had declined from 62.6 % in 2014-15 to 43.4 % in 2022-23.