Sample RTI: Government Hospital Treatment, Billing and Referral Records

• Your own treatment file (case sheet, doctor's notes, lab reports, discharge summary) not handed over despite written request.
• Billing breakup not given on a paid government-hospital bill.
• Denied admission or denied emergency care; the denial register entry is required under State health rules.
• Referral letter or counter-referral letter not given on transfer to or from a tertiary hospital.
• Surgery scheduled then postponed without reasons recorded.
• Investigation reports (CT, MRI, biopsy) lost from the file.
• Death-summary or autopsy report not given to next of kin.
• Mismanagement / negligence record needed for a Medical Council complaint.

• Private hospital records: a private hospital is not a public authority under the RTI Act unless substantially financed by Government. Use the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2002 procedure with the State Medical Council.
• Compensation claim: file before the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, for medical negligence; an RTI prepares evidence.
• Asking for another patient's file: refused under Section 8(1)(j) unless next-of-kin status proven (death certificate + relationship proof) or Section 11 third-party procedure followed.
• Pure clinical query: the RTI is for records, not advice; ask the doctor for clinical opinion in writing.

• Quote your Outpatient (OPD) Number, IPD / Admission Number, MRD Number, and dates of treatment.
• Limit the date-range to your treatment dates (so the PIO cannot plead voluminousness).
• Ask specifically for the case sheet, lab reports, billing ledger, referral letter, and denial register entry.
• Use the proviso to Section 7(1) (“life or liberty”) if treatment is ongoing or critical: reply due in 48 hours.
• Send by Speed Post (Acknowledgement Due) and keep the AD card.

A patient's medical record is highly sensitive personal data under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and is also covered by Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act read with Section 11 third-party procedure. You may ask only for your own records. For a deceased relative's records, attach the death certificate and your relationship proof. For another adult patient's records, you need that patient's written consent or a court order.

To
The Public Information Officer
[Name of Government Hospital]
[Full postal address, PIN]

Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
       Treatment, billing and referral records, OPD / IPD No. [XXXX]

Sir / Madam,

1. I, [Full name], a citizen of India residing at [full address], apply under
   Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for the records below.
   This request engages the proviso to Section 7(1): "life or liberty"
   reply within 48 hours, since the records are required for ongoing
   treatment / certification.

2. Particulars for record-identification:
       Patient name        : ________________ (self / spouse / minor child)
       OPD No / IPD No     : ________________
       MRD No              : ________________
       Dates of treatment  : ________________
       Treating department : ________________

3. Information sought (please supply certified copies):
   (a) Certified copy of the case sheet / IPD case record for the dates above,
       including all doctor's notes, nursing notes, and consents.
   (b) Certified copy of every laboratory and radiology report on file.
   (c) Certified copy of the discharge summary / death summary, as applicable.
   (d) Certified copy of the billing ledger and the bill calculation worksheet.
   (e) Certified copy of the referral letter / counter-referral letter, if any.
   (f) Certified copy of the denial-register entry, if I was denied admission
       or denied any specific procedure.
   (g) Name and designation of the treating consultant of record on each
       date of treatment.
   (h) Standing Operating Procedure or Hospital Policy that governed the
       decision in question (admission, transfer, discharge, denial).

4. I enclose Rs 10 by Indian Postal Order in favour of the Accounts Officer
   of the Hospital. (BPL applicants: enclose BPL card copy and claim Section
   7(5) exemption.)

5. Please send the reply to the address below by Registered Post.

Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name    : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date    : ___________________

To
The First Appellate Authority
[Government Hospital / Directorate of Health Services]

Subject: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
       Non-supply of treatment, billing or referral records

Sir / Madam,

1. I filed RTI dated [DD/MM/YYYY] (Speed Post No. [XXXX]) seeking the records
   listed therein. The request invoked the life-or-liberty proviso to
   Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

2. The 30-day / 48-hour period expired on [DD/MM/YYYY]. The PIO has not
   replied / has replied incompletely on the following points: [list].

3. I therefore appeal under Section 19(1) and pray that the PIO be directed
   to supply the records sought within the time fixed by you.

4. I draw attention to Section 19(8)(a)(i) on costs and Section 20(1) on
   penalties for unreasonable delay.

Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name    : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date    : ___________________

• mohfw.gov.in: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• nmc.org.in: National Medical Commission, professional conduct.
• clinicalestablishments.gov.in: Clinical Establishments Registration.
• The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (in adopting States).
• The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
• The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7(1), 8(1)(j), and 19(1).

No. A private hospital is not a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, unless it is substantially financed by Government or established by statute. For a private-hospital record, you need the patient's written request to the hospital under the IMC Regulations, 2002, which require the record to be supplied in 72 hours.

Photocopy charges fixed under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, apply for the second page onwards (Rs 2 / page typical). For BPL applicants, all charges are waived under Section 7(5).

Invoke the proviso to Section 7(1): where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, the PIO must reply within 48 hours. State this on the cover of your RTI in bold.

Yes. Attach the death certificate and your relationship proof (birth certificate / Aadhaar / ration card showing relationship). The PIO will then treat the request as one made by a lawful representative.

Ask for the denial register entry for the date and time of your visit. Most State health rules require any denial to be recorded with reasons; absence of an entry is itself proof of non-compliance.

• AI RTI Drafter: builds a customised letter in 60 seconds.
• Sample RTI index: full library.
• First appeal guide: Section 19(1) procedure.
• Sample RTI: Ayushman Bharat PMJAY: scheme cousin.
• Sample RTI: complaint follow-up: generic complaint sample.
• Sample RTI: pension: another personal-record sample.

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026

Sources verified against the RTI Act, 2005, the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, the IMC (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2002, and the MoHFW portal as on 9 May 2026.