India, Oct. 20 -- The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Monday directed all ward medical officers to conduct surprise inspections of all private hospitals in their jurisdictions to check whether treatment rates are prominently displayed in Marathi and English, following a state government directive aimed at curbing overcharging and billing disputes. However, health activists claim the rules remain on paper.

The PMC health department has as many as 950 private hospitals and clinics registered under the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949.

The state government earlier in a circular issued on October 16, stated that the rates of medical services and available facilities specified under Schedule III of the Maharashtra Nursing...