AIIMS plan to revise user charge put on hold

New Delhi: AIIMS has shelved the proposal of revising treatment charges following stiff opposition from the faculty members.

In a meeting held recently, the feasibility of revision of user charges was discussed and a majority of the faculty members opposed it, saying the concept of equity and access to healthcare will be compromised as mostly poor patients come to AIIMS for treatment.

Following opposition from faculty members, the proposal to revise user charges has been put on hold, an AIIMS official said. The finance ministry had asked the AIIMS to undertake a review and revise its user charges which have not been revised for the last 20 years.

AIIMS deputy director V. Srinivas said the institute has been presenting demands for additional allocation amounting to Rs 300 crore, in non-plan expenditures which are of recurring nature including sala-ries, consumables, maintenance and establishment expenditure every year.

The institute currently generates Rs 101 crore from user charges which include OPD charges, diagnostic tests in various departments, radiology charges, in-patient care and room rentals. As per the minutes of the meeting circulated among all members, Anoop Saraya, HoD Gastroenterology, said a parliamentary panel and WHO expert committee have expressed concerns in the past against levying of user charges as it makes services inaccessible for larger section of the society.