Patients Charged for OPD Slips in 91 Govt Hospitals Across Himachal

Shimla, Sept 2 – Patients in several government hospitals of Himachal Pradesh are being charged a fee for OPD slips. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhaniram Shandil informed the Assembly on Tuesday that a consultation fee of ₹10 has been fixed in 91 hospitals across 11 districts of the state, following approval from the respective *Rogi Kalyan Samitis*. Bilaspur is the only district exempt from this fee.

Replying to a query raised by Hamirpur MLA Ashish Sharma, the minister said that maximum charges are levied in Kangra and Una districts, with 21 hospitals each, followed by Solan (19 hospitals). Shimla district’s IGMC, Chamiyana, Rippon, Civil Hospital Theog, and Civil Hospital Sunni also charge the fee. Other districts include Chamba (7), Kinnaur (6), Sirmaur (5), Mandi (2), and Hamirpur (2).

The government also admitted that some diagnostic tests that were earlier free are now being charged. In Kangra, all government hospitals levy fees for ECG and ultrasound. Similar charges apply at regional hospitals in Solan and Dharamshala, as well as in Nurpur and Palampur (Kangra). In Mandi’s Balh and Sundernagar hospitals, and in Una’s Amb and Hamirpur’s Barsar and Bijhri hospitals, patients also pay for certain tests.