AIIMS conducts survey on user charges

In a survey conducted by a committee of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the user fee, doctors have revealed the cumbersome process of accessing the healthcare at the hospital. The study reveals various charges borne by patients visiting the hospital, which include their travel, lodging, and loss of income for the day cost. The study reveals that a Delhi patient has to shell out Rs 1,900 per visit and an out-station patient spends Rs 4,300 per visit.

The study was conducted among 456 patients who visited the out-patient department of the hospital, of which 234 were residents of Delhi, while 222 were outsiders. More than 95 per cent of the patients were accompanied by attendants and more than 25 per cent of the patients were accompanied by two or more attendants, which also increases the cost.

Among the interviewed patients, 63.8 per cent had received a single consultation while 31.9 per cent received multiple consultations.

The survey also highlighted the inconvenient process of accessing various services, which include the first report for the registration at the Patient Reception Centre, despite prior online appointments.After the consultation, the patients encounter long queues for slots or dates for prescribed investigations, and then for the investigations on the scheduled days.

Often many of these processes have to be repeated as a result of which the patients have to make multiple travels or visits, which add to avoidable harassment and economic loss to them.

The committee, headed by the Head of Gastroenterology Department, Dr Anoop Saraya, submitted its report which also had recommendation to increase the private ward charges to Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per day, to make up for the loss as their rates are cheaper than the semi-private ward charges in corporate hospitals that can be accessed by the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) employees.

Another hurdle

The AIIMS survey points out the inconvenience of accessing various services, including the first report for the registration at the Patient Reception Centre, despite prior online appointments.