Keralam plans Bill to regulate high treatment costs in private hospitals

Keralam Health Minister K. Muraleedharan

The Keralam government will introduce a Bill in the next Assembly session to regulate high medical treatment costs in private hospitals, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan told the Assembly on Monday (October 26, 2026).

He was responding to a question from Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA K.N. Balagopal on the steps being taken by the government to regulate the trend of some major hospitals, in which global private equity firms now have big stakes, inflating treatment costs.

The Minister said the government agreed in principle to the need to regulate private hospitals, many of which were now under the management of foreign companies. He said that while the costs for treatment as well as room rents have increased drastically, insurance companies are at times refusing claims, causing difficulties to the common people.

Responding to another question, Mr. Muraleedharan said the government was preparing a project to transform Keralam into a health destination which will be sought after by foreigners as well as those from other States. The Principal Secretary (Health department), Director of the Health Department and the Director of Medical Education will coordinate these activities.

A major campaign for early detection and control of lifestyle diseases is also underway. As part of this, heath workers will visit houses and identify those needing attention through a survey and preliminary screening. The pilot project will be implemented in the Vattiyurkavu, Idukki and Nilambur Assembly constituencies first and later expanded across the State, said Mr. Muraleedharan.