-The Times of India A new self regulatory code of conduct for doctors and hospitals, in the process of being formulated, could hold investors and members on the boards of medical establishments responsible for unethical practices in the establishment such as giving cuts to doctors and diagnostic facilities or taking bribes from pharmaceutical companies. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Association of Hospital Providers of India (AHPI) have constituted a joint...

-The Telegraph Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The state government today issued a notification, making it mandatory for private hospitals and nursing homes, which receive government land at a subsidised rate, to provide free treatment to poor patients. The no-objection certificate to run the hospitals will be withdrawn if they fail to comply with the order. According to the notification, free treatment to those belonging to the below poverty line category (BPL) patients should be provided...

-The Times of India BANGALORE: In a blow to government employees, including those who have retired, the Central Government Health Service has announced withdrawal of cashless medical service in private hospitals empanelled with the CGHS scheme from March 7. Patients will henceforth have to cough up hospital charges and later claim the amount from the government, according to the new rule. The move will affect 50 lakh serving employees and over 30...

-The Economic Times HYDERABAD: Numerous pharmacies - especially those operating on rented space - are shutting down across the country, hurt by a sharp decline in margins after the introduction of a new pricing policy for medicines and intense competition from bigger players. The new Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), which was notified on May 15, has made the prices of some 150 drugs fall steeply. Under this, companies and retailers are...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In a dramatic reversal of the trend that existed just three years ago, big corporate hospitals today charge health insurance card holders much less than those paying in cash for the same procedures. Those paying out of their pockets are now billed anywhere between 25% and 60% more than those with cashless health insurance schemes. TOI did a comparative study of the amounts charged from the...