Shimla, June 5— Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today clarified that it is not mandatory for government hospitals to collect a ₹10 consultation fee from patients.
“The government has not imposed any blanket decision to charge patients. It is entirely up to the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) of each hospital,” Sukhu stated.
He explained that the RKS can choose to levy the nominal fee if it requires funds for essential services such as sanitation, infrastructure upkeep, and equipment maintenance. “If the committee feels it has sufficient resources, there is no need to charge patients,” he added.
The clarification comes amid public concerns over reports of hospitals collecting consultation fees. The Chief Minister emphasized that the move is flexible and aimed at empowering local hospital committees to manage their operations effectively based on their financial needs.
