Overview

• Private hospitals and nursing homes must hand over deceased bodies within two hours of death certification regardless of unpaid bills.
• A 24×7 toll-free helpline (104) is now active to allow families to report any refusal to release bodies.
• Institutions that delay body release must be reported to local police and district health authorities within four hours of the incident.
• Violations carry penalties including ₹5 lakh fines, licence suspension for three to six months, and permanent deregistration for repeat offences.
• Enforcement of the new guidelines begins on August 1, prompting hospitals to revise billing and discharge procedures.