At a time when there is a dire need to make healthcare services affordable, the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) has devised a draft standard costing template for the healthcare sector.

Once rolled out, such a template will help prospective patients get an indicative cost of the services to be availed, said Rakesh Bhalla, Chairman of the Northern India Regional Council (NIRC) of ICAI.

The draft standard costing template has been devised in partnership with the Health Ministry, SK Bhatt, Treasurer, NIRC, said.

ICAI has now invited medical professionals and small and medium-sized hospitals (10-50 beds) to help fill the template and test for pitfalls so that corrective measures could be taken up, said Vijender Sharma, immediate past chairman of NIRC.

The institute is awaiting recommendations from the healthcare industry on the template, said AS Durga Prasad, Vice-President, ICAI.

There cannot be a common cost for healthcare services across the country. So, some form of indicative range could be a helpful indicator, Prasad said at a seminar on 'Costing, auditing and regulatory aspects of healthcare sector’.