AIIMS New Delhi doubles private ward charges, abolishes investigation charges

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences has announced a hike in the room rent and diet charge for private wards and the abolition of user charges for all investigations and laboratory charges.

The charges for its A-category room in private wards have been doubled from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per day, whereas B-category rooms rise from Rs 2,000 per day to Rs 3,000 from June 1. The room rent for both categories is inclusive of admission charges.

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The premier health institution has set a charge of Rs 300 per day for diet at the private wards. The revised price will also be applicable from June 1.

AIIMS had last revised the charges of private wards in the year, 2011.

"The 10 days advance deposit for A class/deluxe room will be Rs 63,000 and for B class/ordinary rooms will be Rs 33,000. The revised charge will be applicable w.e.f June 1, 2022", the AIIMS said in a statement.

TOI reports that AIIMS sources said the idea behind increasing the private ward charges was to generate additional revenue from those who could pay to drive down the cost for various services and procedures in the general wards. 

In a separate statement, the AIIMS also announced the abolition of user charges for all investigations and laboratory charges currently costing upto Rs 300 per procedure.

"The revenue generated by levying user charges on investigations/laboratory services costing less than Rs 300 isn't much but it causes avoidable harassment to patients and their family members who have to stand in queue to make the payments. The abolition of such charges is, therefore, a positive step indeed," a senior doctor at the hospital said.

"AIIMS is pleased to approve the abolition of user charges for all investigations and laboratory charges currently costing upto Rs 300 per procedure in AIIMS Hospital and all centres with immediate effect," the premier health institution said.

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