hospital of their choice. In this regard, the Commission notes that as stated by the OP, patients seeking admission are given an estimated cost based on the immediate apparent ailment and suggested line of treatment. From perusal of the documents containing the estimated cost, submitted by the OP, the Commission notes that it provides break up of charges towards various services required in the treatment viz , the procedure, drugs, medical consumables, room rent etc . Furthermore, from the instances submitted by the OP, it is noted that in most of the cases the actual bill amount was close to the estimated amount given before the admission. 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.
