ANI
The Government of Karnataka has issued a circular detailing the updated charges with immediate effect. The main changes include doubling of the out-patient department (OPD) registration fee from Rs 10 to Rs 20 and a similar increase in the in-patient admission fee, which now costs Rs 50 instead of Rs 25. Blood test fee has increased from Rs 70 to Rs 120. , Ward fee has been increased from Rs 25 to Rs 50.
The Congress government of Karnataka has increased the fees for medical services in government hospitals. Following the increase in service charges, patients undergoing treatment at government hospitals under the Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) will now have to face increased medical charges. The revised rates are applicable to major hospitals including Victoria Hospital, Vani Vilas Hospital, Minto Hospital, Super Specialty Hospital and Trauma Care Centre. The Karnataka government has issued a circular detailing the updated charges with immediate effect. The main changes include doubling of the out-patient department (OPD) registration fee from Rs 10 to Rs 20 and a similar increase in the in-patient admission fee, which now costs Rs 50 instead of Rs 25. Blood test fee has increased from Rs 70 to Rs 120. , Ward fee has been increased from Rs 25 to Rs 50.
The hike is part of the state-mandated 10%-15% increase in medical service charges across all government hospitals, with BMCRI institutions being the first to implement the revised rates. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao defended the move, calling it a necessary adjustment in view of inflation and prices unchanged for many years, Rao said. We are revising the user fee which was decided long ago. In some areas we have increased them by 10% or 20%. For example, the charges which were Rs 10 have been revised to Rs 20, and the charges which were Rs 20 have now been revised to Rs 50. It is not a burden on the people; These are affordable prices. So, it is not a big issue.
He also pushed back against criticism linking the price increase to funding requirements for government guarantee schemes and said the amendment was a routine adjustment rather than an extraordinary measure. “Even previous governments have revised charges for water bills, electricity bills and many other services. The comparison is irrelevant, as the rates have remained unchanged for many years.
