User Charges At AIIMS Rolled Back

In an important move that will benefit poor patients, the Centre today decided to roll back the user charges in the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The decision to withdraw the user charges, imposed earlier this year, was taken at a meeting of the AIIMS Institute Body where a majority of the members wanted the user charges to be rolled back.

"The Union Health Ministry has decided to restore to the old rates," sources in the ministry said.

The introduction of user charges at the Institute had triggered a sharp reaction from a cross section of people and more than 100 MPs from across the political spectrum had urged the government immediately withdraw the "anti-people" measure.

The MPs had recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and submitted a memorandum pointing out that the "huge increase" in the user charges had put a tremendous burden on poor patients many of whom came from outside the national capital for treatment.

Source:PTI News