Kerala Government to Draft Bill for Affordable Private Health Care After Court Upholds 2018 Act

UPDATE - follow-up to In Keralam, 'affordable' private health care is easier said than done: The Keralam government announced it will start consultations with private hospitals and clinics to draft a Bill that would make private health care more affordable. The announcement comes after a seven‑year legal battle ended when the Kerala High Court upheld the Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulations) Act 2018 and rejected every objection raised by private providers. The 2018 act was the state’s first effort to bring the entire health sector, public and private, under a common regulatory framework, requiring registration of all establishments and setting minimum standards for facilities and staff. By extending the act’s reach, the new Bill aims to curb the high fees that patients often face in private hospitals. The government says the consultations will allow the private sector to voice concerns before the Bill is finalised. ## Context The court’s ruling means private hospitals must now comply with state rules, and the upcoming Bill seeks to use that legal foundation to lower costs for patients across Keralam.