A recent survey reveals that receiving medical care in private hospitals across India is significantly more expensive than in government-run facilities. According to data from the National Sample Survey (NSS) from January to December 2025, the average cost of hospitalization in a private hospital stands at ₹50,508, which is approximately 7.6 to 8 times higher than the ₹6,631 average at a government hospital.
These stark figures, cited in a new survey by LocalCircles, underscore growing concerns about healthcare affordability and the considerable financial strain placed on families seeking treatment. The LocalCircles survey gathered responses from 23,084 citizens across 306 districts in India, focusing on their experiences with private hospital services over the past three years.
Patient Concerns Over High Costs
The survey identified several key areas of concern for patients and their families regarding private healthcare costs:
- Treatment Prices: A significant 68% of respondents reported excessively high prices for treatments, making it the most frequently cited issue.
- Diagnostic Tests: 63% found diagnostic test costs to be unreasonably high.
- Facility Charges: More than half (56%) pointed to excessive charges for facilities such as Intensive Care Units (ICUs) or rooms.
- Medicines and Consumables: 51% felt that prices for medicines and other consumables were excessively high.
The disparity extends to specific medical procedures, such as childbirth. The average out-of-pocket expenditure for childbirth in a private hospital was ₹37,630, dramatically higher than the ₹2,299 spent in a public facility.
Billing Practices Under Scrutiny
Beyond the direct costs of treatment, the LocalCircles survey also brought to light various issues related to billing transparency and practices in private hospitals:
- Unnecessary Consultations: 49% of respondents reported that unnecessary doctor consultation charges were included in their bills.
- Excessive Consultation Fees: 43% faced excessively high charges for doctor consultations.
- Overbilling of Consumables: 40% noted overbilling for the quantity of medicines and consumables used.
- Unexpected Charges: Another 40% encountered unexpected or undisclosed charges in their bills.
Overall, more than six out of ten families surveyed indicated they had experienced problems with private hospital bills, with the high cost of treatments and diagnostic tests being the primary grievances. Only 14% of respondents stated they had not encountered any of the listed billing issues.
These findings collectively highlight the substantial financial burden associated with private healthcare in India, particularly when hospitalization, specialized tests, or critical care facilities are required. The data reinforces the urgent need for greater transparency and regulation in healthcare pricing to alleviate the pressure on patients.