Higher rates in govt hospitals hit the poor

MYSORE: The overnight decision to increase rates of treatment and other services in government-run hospitals has not only shocked the poor patients, but turned away the middle-class too.
Several patients who turned up at the K.R. Hospital here on Tuesday morning, returned without treatment as they had not brought the required fee.
The out-patient charge, which was Rs 5 per person, has been raised to Rs 10.The in-patient charge has been hiked from Rs 10 to Rs 25. The poor, who were admitted into the intensive care units free, will have to cough up Rs 550 a day. This is the case with patients ailing from kidney failure. Renal failure patients have to pay Rs 350 for dialysis, which was free earlier. The ward charges have also been increased. Patients have to pay Rs 35, Rs 90 and Rs 170 for a day against Rs 30, Rs 70 and Rs 150 earlier.
Even those patients admitted to general wards have to pay Rs 10 per day against Rs 5 per day earlier. Not only patients, even doctors seemed upset over the new order. According to sources, the government order, which was received at 10 p.m. on Monday, clearly stated the new rates should come into force immediately.