it-or-leave-it” scenario, patients are under no compulsion to admit themselves to the OP if they find the costs or services unsatisfactory. Patients are generally aware about the cost before taking healthcare services from hospitals and the patients are free to choose any hospital of their choice. In this regard, the Commission notes that, patients seeking admission are given an estimated cost based on the immediate apparent ailment and suggested line of treatment. The Commission observes that hospitals provide break up of charges towards various services required in the treatment viz , the procedure, drugs, medical consumables, room rent etc . The DG in the investigation report fails to highlight inability if any, of the patients seeking treatment to undertake a holistic treatment cost analysis at the time of admission. The Commission is cognizant of the fact that the final cost of treatment may vary from patient to patient on the basis of health conditions, number of visits of doctors, tests undertaken and other diagnosis/complications that may arise during the treatment. There could be contingent expenses such as additional diagnostics, extended hospital stays, consumables, specialist consultations, or compulsory in-house services, which may accrue after admission. Accordingly, the estimated cost communicated ex ante may differ from the actual cost incurred ex post . Further, the estimated cost is based on broad heads and does not give granular cost of each consumable, which is known only during or after the treatment. However, from the perspective of the issue on hand, it emerges that the patients seem to have reasonable degree of information to undertake a comparative analysis of the total expenses relating to the treatment of the ailment and other incidental expenses and take an informed decision.
