India, April 19 -- The Delhi high court has asked the Centre and Delhi government to develop a mechanism to streamline the settlement of medical bills by insurance companies, so that patients are not harassed or denied timely discharge by hospitals.

A bench of justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that both the Union and Delhi governments must work in coordination with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and the medical councils of Delhi and India to formulate the system.

The court also raised concerns over the rising instances of harassment faced by patients and their families during the bill-settlement process, blaming both hospitals and insurance firms for delays and prolonged procedures that add to patients' mental...