Almost a year after notifying rules of the controversial Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Act, the State government has finally set up an expert committee for recommending uniform package rates, classification and standards of infrastructure in hospitals, and standard protocols for treatment.
While this means reasonable and uniform package rates for various procedures in hospitals empanelled under Arogya Karnataka will be fixed soon, there is no clue as to when the rate fixation would be done as the terms of reference for the committees have not been stipulated by the government.
The uniform package rate committee is headed by the Principal Secretary, Department of Medical Education, the classification and standards of infrastructure committee is under the Health and Family Welfare Commissioner. The committee to fix standard protocols for treatment is headed by director of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI).