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Demand detailed bills from private hospitals
View(s):Private hospitals will be compelled to issue detailed bills to in-house patients from November 1, the Government has decided.Failing to issue detailed bills will enable the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to file action against the hospital, CAA Director General J.M.A. Douglas said.
Mr. Douglas said that a gazette notification vesting the CAA with power to take legal action against hospitals which do not provide a comprehensive bill to its patients was issued on Thursday. He said that in terms of these regulations, hospitals would have to issue bills with information on the drugs or vitamins given together with their brand and generic names, the quantity administered and the cost.
The hospitals will also have to give details of devices used in treatment specifying the quantity and the cost. Mr. Douglas said the new regulations would be given wide publicity in the media so that patients and their families would know exactly what to do and what their rights were.
Complaints against hospitals which do not give detailed bills could be made by patients to the CAA which would investigate and take legal action. At present, most private hospitals do not provide detailed information of drugs or any other treatment provided.