The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a petition challenging the Kerala High Court’s verdict, which issued a series of directions, including requiring clinical facilities to prominently display the list of services offered and package rates.
The Division Bench of the Supreme Court delivered the verdict on November 26 while dismissing the appeal against the order of the Single Judge Bench dismissing the plea challenging various provisions of the Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018.
The plea filed in the high court by the Kerala Private Hospitals Association and Hussain Koya Thangal was heard before Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta on Tuesday.
The bench issued notices to the Kerala government and others seeking their responses to the petition and posted it for hearing on February 3. It also directed the authorities not to take any enforcement action against the members of the association till the next date of hearing.
Noting that the petitioners could implead the Center as a party in the matter, the Bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist it.
Members of the association will continue to register according to § 19 of the Act.
The Supreme Court issued a series of directions and said that every clinical facility must prominently display in Malayalam as well as in English the list of services offered and the basic and package rates for commonly performed procedures with a note that unforeseen complications or additional procedures must be itemized at the reception desk or admission counter and on its official website.
Among other guidelines, every clinical facility should maintain a complaint counter or helpline and register each complaint with a unique reference number and issue confirmation immediately through text messages, WhatsApp or in physical form.
It stated that failure to comply with these guidelines will require regulatory action under the law, including suspension or revocation of registration and the imposition of sanctions, in addition to any civil, criminal or constitutional remedies available to patients.
Published – 16 Dec 2025 20:53 IST
