Health services in govt hospitals to cost more

Tribune News Service

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Dehradun, January 1

Government hospitals across the state ushered in New Year by increasing by 10 per cent the cost of services offered at general, paid and private ward patients.

According to the new rates at the Doon Hospital, Coronation Hospital and the Women’s Hospital, the registration charges will be Rs 15 for the OPD, general, paid and private wards.

While the admission charges for the in-patient department (IPD) in the above mentioned categories for all the three hospitals will be Rs 75.

“Since last year, the registration charges for the OPD were being increased by Re 1 in all categories and the admission charges for the IPD in all categories by Rs 5. However, the MRI rates have not been hiked and these continue to be Rs 3,500 in the three categories,” said Dr RS Aswal, PMS, Doon Hospital.

In the Doon Hospital, a CT scan of the head will now cost Rs 1,200 (general), Rs 1,350 (paid) and Rs 1500 (private) ward, an increase of Rs 80 from last year. While there has been a hike of Rs 20 for CT scans of other parts of the body.

In the Coronation Hospital, ultrasound will cost around Rs 322, which was Rs 297 last year. “We have affected a 10 per cent hike in the rates, as advised by the DG Health,” said Dr Bharati Rana, CMS Coronation Hospital.

Further, an ICU bed in the Doon Hospital would cost around Rs 1,500 in all categories, an increase of Rs 100 compared to last year. Now, the ECG will cost Rs 150 (general), Rs 225 (paying) and Rs 300 (private), an increase of Rs 100 in all categories.

Meanwhile, the new rates announced by the hospital authorities have not got down well with patients. “We will have to pay extra for the services which will be too much for us to bear. The CT scan will be costlier so as the physiotherapy,” said Arvind, a patient.

In all, the rates of 14 services have been revised this year at the Doon Hospital and other hospitals.