Ernakulam: The High Court has laid down comprehensive guidelines to improve hospital services and protect patient rights. According to the order, all hospitals are required to examine and stabilize patients arriving at the emergency department, regardless of their financial status or documentation. If further treatment is needed, hospitals must ensure safe transfer to another facility.
Patients must receive all test reports, including X-rays, ECGs, and scans, upon discharge. Hospitals are also mandated to clearly display treatment rates, available services, package rates, and doctor information in both Malayalam and English at reception areas and on their websites. Information regarding patient rights and complaint procedures should also be visible.
Every hospital must maintain a grievance redressal desk. Patients should receive a receipt or SMS acknowledgment when lodging a complaint, which must be resolved within seven working days. Unresolved complaints are to be escalated to the District Medical Officer (DMO).
The single bench order was upheld by a division bench of Justices Sushrut Aravind Dharmadhikari and Shyam Kumar V.M., reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in healthcare.
