Rising medical bills in India are sparking concern again. Ashish Singhal, co-founder of crypto unicorn CoinSwitch, has criticized the way private hospitals inflate costs—likening some hospital bills to luxury hotel receipts.
In a recent post, he pointed out how a surgery that should cost around ₹50,000 often ends up being billed at over ₹2 lakh due to hidden charges and opaque billing practices.
What Singhal Said
Ashish Singhal drew attention to the non-transparent nature of hospital bills, where patients are often burdened with unexpected costs.
“A hospital bill for a ₹2 lakh surgery sometimes looks more like a 5-star hotel receipt,” he remarked, highlighting the issue of additional charges for services and facilities that patients never anticipate.
He argued that India’s healthcare system urgently needs greater cost transparency so patients can make informed decisions.
The Bigger Issue: Opaque Billing
The concerns raised by Singhal echo long-standing issues in India’s private healthcare sector:
- Hidden Charges → Many patients find unexplained fees for consumables, equipment use, or “service charges.”
- Mismatch with Insurance → Bills often exceed what insurance companies cover, leaving patients with large out-of-pocket expenses.
- Patient Confusion → Complex breakdowns make it difficult for families to understand what they’re paying for.
Why Transparency Matters
- For Patients: Prevents financial shocks during emergencies.
- For Insurers: Makes claim settlements smoother, avoiding disputes.
- For Healthcare Trust: Improves credibility of hospitals and strengthens patient-doctor relationships.
👉 Related: Major Hospitals to Stop Cashless Treatment for Bajaj Allianz Policyholders
Industry Reactions
Healthcare analysts agree with Singhal’s concerns. With medical inflation in India rising at nearly 14% per year, patients often face bills far beyond expectations. Experts say regulatory reforms and standardized billing formats could help restore transparency.
Why This Matters
In a country where millions depend on health insurance schemes like Ayushman Bharat and private policies, non-transparent billing erodes trust in both insurers and hospitals. Calls for reform are growing louder, and Singhal’s remarks add momentum to the debate.
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