K'taka Revamps Expert Panels to Standardize Healthcare Package Rates, Private Hospital Norms

To maintain consistent standards across private healthcare facilities, the state government has also reconstituted an Expert Committee to review and recommend norms for classification, infrastructure, staffing patterns, and staff qualifications for private medical establishments.

In a significant move to improve transparency and uniformity in health assurance schemes, the Karnataka government has reconstituted an expert committee to revise standard package rates for medical services provided at empaneled hospitals.

The reconstituted committee assesses healthcare costs and recommends uniform package rates to be implemented across public and private hospitals under state-run health insurance and assurance schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and other government programs.

The initiative aims to eliminate pricing disparities, ensure fair reimbursements, and improve access to quality medical care.

“The committee has been formed and the latest proposal highlights the need to revisit and update the existing package recommendations. Based on this, the government has formally amended the relevant rule and reconstituted the committee accordingly,” an official order stated.

The newly formed panel will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, or Secretary to the Department of Health and Family Welfare. It includes senior administrators like the Executive Director of Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the Health Commissioner, Medical Education Director, a representative from the Finance Department (Deputy Secretary rank or above), and a senior official from Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology to represent tertiary public healthcare institutions.

To maintain consistent standards across private healthcare facilities, the state government has also reconstituted an Expert Committee to review and recommend norms for classification, infrastructure, staffing patterns, and staff qualifications for private medical establishments.

The Health Commissioner will chair the revised committee and include senior officials from the Health, Ayush, and Medical Education Departments, along with representatives from NIMHANS, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Indian Medical Association (IMA), and other organisations.

The reconstitution comes after a proposal from the Health Commissioner, who sought to revise the non-governmental members of the committee. The panel has been tasked with reviewing and updating the existing classification and operational norms for private healthcare providers in alignment with the Karnataka Private Medical Institutions (Amendment) Act.

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