Latest news with #WoodlandsHospital
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Hosps follow transparency bill, start displaying rates
Kolkata: Several private hospitals in Kolkata plan to display their charges, including package rates, on LCD screens. Others are altering their displays to include additional information, mandated by a bill placed at the state assembly earlier this week. Association of Hospitals of Eastern India has slated a meeting for next week, when plans are on to address the need to consider the flexibility of hospital charges, which often leads to rates varying between initial estimates and the actual bill. The West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled in the assembly last Monday, states: "Every clinical establishment shall strictly follow the fixed rates and charges.... It shall ensure that intensive care, ventilation, implants, consultation and similar tests and procedures, and any additional treatment or procedure shall not attract additional charges. .." Woodlands Hospital already has an LCD display, listing major charges. "We are expanding the list to meet the bill requirement. We plan to counsel patients' families more elaborately on charges. While we have a system of counselling and display, there could be gaps that can be improved," said Rupak Barua, CEO of Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital and AHEI president. Barua added opinion would be sought from other hospitals to arrive at a consensus on variable charges, like those under packages that could change during treatment. "Treatment being a dynamic process, costs might increase, depending on patient's condition. After our internal talks, we will approach the govt with a proposal," he added. BP Poddar Hospital has displayed the rates of its general beds, critical care, double-bed, single-bed and suites on two screens as well as charges for tests, procedures, implants, package rates and consultation fees. "We maintain transparency across every stage. Keeping in line with NABH guidelines and govt regulations, we ensure all hospital charges and treatment-related expenses are itemised and communicated to patients and their families. Our tariffs and charge structures are prominently displayed. We are adding a few more speciality units and we plan to install modern devices that will ease patient convenience about tariffs and rates," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, Group Adviser, B P Poddar Hospital. Peerless Hospital is waiting for more instructions from the health authorities before displaying charges. "We have a manual display, which must now include a lot more categories. It will be difficult without an electronic screen. We had an interaction with the health authorities and were asked to wait," said Peerless CEO Sudipta Mitra. Charnock Hospital, too, plans to follow soon. "There should be transparency, rates displayed and charged should be the same. Also, hospital treatment depends on patients' condition, which is dynamic. Pre-admission cost estimates may change during treatment. But pricing and billing should be transparent," said Charnock MD Prashant Sharma, Indian Chamber of Commerce Health Committee chairperson.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Bengal assembly passes bill that requires hospitals to display charges
KOLKATA: The West Bengal assembly on Tuesday passed the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 which requires clinical establishments to 'prominently display fixed rates and package charges at a conspicuous place within the facility' to bring transparency into the functioning of clinical establishments. The bill also proposes to make it mandatory for all private hospitals and nursing homes to 'maintain electronic medical records for each patient through approved software'. The bill also said that proper estimates of all treatment charges, which do not fall within the ambit of packages and fixed charges, must be provided to the patient's family before treatment commences. 'Every clinical establishment shall strictly follow the fixed rates and charges, including the package rates, for investigation, bed charges, operation theatre procedures,' the bill passed by the assembly said. Minister of state for health Chandrima Bhattacharya introduced the bill in the assembly on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, faulted the bill, saying it should have had provisions for the safety and security of doctors and nurses in the hospitals. 'It seems that the state government hasn't learnt any lesson from the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. The bill has nothing on safety and security of doctors and nurses. This bill may suit the bigger hospitals in the cities but not the small establishments in the districts. Where is the infrastructure in smaller private hospitals and nursing homes in the districts for e-prescriptions and e-budget? This will force more patients to go out of the state for medical treatment,' Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition, told reporters. Hospital associations welcomed the legislation, saying it would bring transparency in bills and treatment costs. 'It is a very good initiative. It would bring more transparency and do away with the misunderstanding about packages and treatment costs. But we also have to keep in mind that medical treatment is very dynamic. In many cases, it doesn't follow a set pattern. So, if the treatment costs exceed the package costs, it should be reviewed unbiasedly and scientifically,' Rupak Barua, managing director and chief executive officer of Woodlands Hospital and president of the Association of Hospitals of Eastern India, said in a video message.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Darlington hospital drops in to help support the air ambulance - raising £10k
A CAMPAIGN by hospital staff to support the Great North Air Ambulance has really taken off. Woodlands Hospital, in Darlington, chose the air ambulance as its charity of the year for 2024 and raised £10,720 with a range of activities, including sponsorship of the charity ball, and Easter and Christmas fundraising extravaganzas. The cheque was handed over to the life-saving charity during a celebration day for its commercial partners. Woodlands, part of Circle Health Group, is now one of GNAA's commercial partners, with the hospital's logo displayed on the back of a critical care response vehicle for a year. (Image: Woodlands Hospital) The hospital's long-serving Executive Director, Debbie Dobbs, said: 'The Great North Air Ambulance carries out priceless work in our region and, as a hospital embedded in the local community, it is a charity which aligns with our own values. (Image: Woodlands Hospital)Recommended reading: Darlington dad praises building society for support of childhood cancer research First look at £13m County Durham housing development creating 30 jobs Concerns over Darlington's child poverty "shame" affecting hundreds of families 'Our staff really embraced the charity and we are all thrilled to have broken the £10,000 mark for such a great cause.' During the celebration day, supporters were thanked by Dean Abbott, whose life was saved by the air ambulance after a motorcycle accident in August 2010. The hospital staff have chosen St Teresa's Hospice as their charity for 2025.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Darlington hospital drops in to help support the air ambulance - raising £10k
A CAMPAIGN by hospital staff to support the Great North Air Ambulance has really taken off. Woodlands Hospital, in Darlington, chose the air ambulance as its charity of the year for 2024 and raised £10,720 with a range of activities, including sponsorship of the charity ball, and Easter and Christmas fundraising extravaganzas. The cheque was handed over to the life-saving charity during a celebration day for its commercial partners. Woodlands, part of Circle Health Group, is now one of GNAA's commercial partners, with the hospital's logo displayed on the back of a critical care response vehicle for a year. (Image: Woodlands Hospital) The hospital's long-serving Executive Director, Debbie Dobbs, said: 'The Great North Air Ambulance carries out priceless work in our region and, as a hospital embedded in the local community, it is a charity which aligns with our own values. (Image: Woodlands Hospital)Recommended reading: Darlington dad praises building society for support of childhood cancer research First look at £13m County Durham housing development creating 30 jobs Concerns over Darlington's child poverty "shame" affecting hundreds of families 'Our staff really embraced the charity and we are all thrilled to have broken the £10,000 mark for such a great cause.' During the celebration day, supporters were thanked by Dean Abbott, whose life was saved by the air ambulance after a motorcycle accident in August 2010. The hospital staff have chosen St Teresa's Hospice as their charity for 2025.
