The Supreme Court has taken a strong stance on the lack of a concrete stand by the Centre regarding standardized rates for medical treatment and procedures in hospitals across the country. 

Expressing dissatisfaction with the current situation, the bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the Union health secretary to convene a meeting with state counterparts to ensure the notification of a standard rate within a month.

The directive came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO 'Veterans Forum for Transparency in Public Life,' which emphasized the necessity for clarity on medical expenses and the importance of hospitals adopting fair and transparent billing practices.

The PIL specifically urges the Centre to determine the fees chargeable to patients based on Rule 9 of the Clinical Establishment Rules 2012. According to this rule, all hospitals and clinical establishments are required to display rates for each type of service provided and facilities available in a conspicuous place in both the vernacular and English languages. 

Furthermore, charges for each type of procedure and service should fall within the range determined by the Centre in consultation with the state government.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court highlighted the stark difference in the cost of cataract surgery, citing examples of Rs 10,000 per eye in a government hospital compared to Rs 30,000-Rs 1,40,000 in a private facility. 

In response, the Centre informed the bench that it had communicated multiple times with the states on this matter but had not received a positive response.

The bench asserted that citizens have a fundamental right to healthcare, and the Centre cannot shirk away from its responsibility in ensuring affordable and standardized medical treatment. 

The court scheduled the next hearing for April 6, indicating the urgency and importance of addressing this issue.

The PIL underlines the constitutional obligation of the state to provide for the health of individuals as well as healthcare, citing the preamble to the Constitution of India and Directive Principles of State Policy. It emphasizes the need for a welfare state with a socialist pattern of society, urging the government to prioritize improvements in public health.