Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, June 5
The Himachal Pradesh government has issued a notification implementing user charges for certain healthcare services that were previously provided free of cost in state-run hospitals and medical colleges. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that the move burdens patients, especially those from economically weaker sections.
As per the notification issued by the Special Secretary (Health), patients visiting government hospitals and medical colleges will now be required to pay ₹10 for OPD registration slips from Thursday onwards. Additional charges have also been fixed for key diagnostic tests — ₹60 for X-rays, ₹120 for ultrasounds, and ₹35 for ECGs.
After public criticism backlash, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu distanced himself from the decision, stating that the imposition of these charges was not a unilateral directive from the state government. In a clarification, he said the decision was based on recommendations made by the Rogi Kalyan Samitis (Patient Welfare Committees) and was finalised by a Cabinet sub-committee.
The Chief Minister added that discretion has been left with individual hospitals to decide whether to implement the charges or not, depending on their requirements for cleanliness and maintenance.
