24/07/2021
*Consumer protection bill*
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-passes-consumer-protection-bill/article28836968.ece
Consumer Protection Bill 2019 has finally been passed by the Rajya Sabha and it has *dropped Healthcare* from its list of services, believe it or not. The Bill *included Healthcare when it was initially tabled in the Lok Sabha.* The fact that healthcare was subsequently dropped was a conscious decision on the part of the legislature and demonstrates unambiguously a clear legislative intent that healthcare will not be brought under Consumer Protection Act.
Finally, *Healthcare* has been dropped from the list of services in *Consumer Protection Bill 2019* which has been duly passed by the Indian Parliament.
Now *patients will be patients and not customers* and *doctors will be doctors and not merchants.*
The Bill seeks to strengthen the rights of consumers and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defects in goods and deficiency in services.
