Treatment and diagnostic services in government hospitals under Karnataka’s Department of Medical Education have become costlier following a 10-15% hike in medical charges. The revised rates, which recently came into effect, apply to facilities under the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) and other autonomous medical institutions across the state.

The price hike was confirmed by Dr BL Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education, as per a report on Times of India. The increased rates include: The price for special ward (shared by two patients) has been increased from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000, single-bed special ward from Rs 750 to Rs 2,000, and general ward from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

The inpatient registration fees have been increased from Rs 25 to Rs 50 and inpatient bed charges from Rs 30 to Rs 50. The post-mortem and medical certificates have been increased from 250 to 300. All the more, Outpatient charges have went up from  Rs 10 to Rs 20.

Diet-related consultation and advice which has been newly introduced will be charged between Rs 50 to Rs 100.

Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao defended the decision, stating that the adjustments were overdue due to inflation and the stagnation of charges for several years. He emphasised that the hikes were a “routine adjustment” rather than an extraordinary move to fund the government’s five guarantee schemes.

However, union Minister HD Kumaraswamy criticised the government, claiming that the burden of implementing the five guarantee programs was being unfairly shifted onto the common people. He remarked, “In all the issues, the State Govt is putting burden on the common man to implement the 5 guarantee programmes. For that, they are unnecessarily burdening the common man. This is not good.”

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— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

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