New Delhi | The Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) has urged the government to undertake comprehensive regulatory reforms, citing the excessive compliance burden faced by hospitals, diagnostics, and MedTech providers due to oversight by 10–12 different ministries across central, state, and municipal levels.
In partnership with EY India, NATHEALTH has submitted a detailed whitepaper to NITI Aayog, proposing a future-ready regulatory framework. The document is the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem.
According to a PTI report, the whitepaper compares regulatory intensity across sectors such as banking, mining, and IT, and finds healthcare among the top three most compliance-heavy industries.
“India’s healthcare sector is subject to a complex and ever-evolving network of regulations,” NATHEALTH stated, highlighting that 25–30% of compliance norms change annually, causing major operational inefficiencies and pulling focus away from patient care and innovation.
The report identified 85 key compliance challenges, with 44 termed especially burdensome due to duplicated processes, ambiguous guidelines, or bureaucratic delays.
Key Reforms Suggested:
- Creation of a digital single-window platform for seamless compliance
- Deemed approvals within fixed timelines to avoid unnecessary delays
- Harmonisation of healthcare regulations across states and departments
- Clear delineation of roles between central and state authorities
NATHEALTH President Ameera Shah stressed the urgent need for regulatory agility:
“As India’s healthcare sector grows, we must adopt patient-centric and innovation-friendly frameworks to sustain quality care and expansion.”
The call for reform comes amid growing consensus within the industry that streamlining governance is vital for ensuring efficiency, improving patient outcomes, and encouraging private investment in healthcare infrastructure.
