India, Oct. 23 -- From November 1, patients at hospitals across Karnataka will be able to see what hospitals paid for medicines as well as their maximum retail prices, under new billing requirements announced by the state government.

Karnataka health and family welfare minister U T Khader said in Bengaluru that hospitals in the state will have to record both figures on patient bills and use the disclosed prices while charging for medicines. Medicine price lists will also have to be displayed in prominent public areas, particularly near registration counters.

The measures are intended to give patients a clearer account of medicine costs and bring greater transparency to hospital billing.

The government is also considering greater disclo...