Shimla
After the closure of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), the state government has increased the cost of treatment and medical tests at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, putting an additional burden on the common people.
In the RKS meeting held under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dhaniram Shandil, several decisions were taken to increase hospital charges. The rates of special wards have been raised, making treatment more expensive for patients in Himachal Pradesh’s biggest government hospital.
As per the new rates, patients will now have to pay ₹1,000 per day for a shared special ward and ₹2,000 per day for a single special ward. Earlier, these charges were much lower. The decision has directly affected patients who depend on government hospitals for affordable treatment.
The government has also approved higher charges for medical tests. PET scan rates have been fixed at ₹10,000, while MRI charges will now range between ₹2,700 and ₹4,000. These hikes come at a time when people are already struggling with rising inflation.
The increase in charges is being linked to financial pressure on the state after RDG was stopped. Critics say instead of protecting public health services, the government has shifted the financial burden onto patients.
The new rates have come into effect immediately, raising concerns that the poor and middle-class families will find it harder to afford quality treatment at IGMC.
