AIIMS withdraws user charges

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) today withdrew ''with immediate effect'' the revised user charges implemented since November last.

The step follows a decision taken by the AIIMS governing body last month. The Union Health Ministry had backed up the decision.

According to AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Kumar Gupta, the charges applicable prior to November 2005 would, however, continue.

Exemption of medical charges for poor patients also would continue as per existing guidelines, he said.

The decision to impose user charges had been stiffly opposed by large sections of the people, including doctors, besides political parties who argued that it would be a burden on poor patients from across the country who reach AIIMS as a last resort.

The institute had been collecting Rs three lakh a month on an average under the head since November last.

UNI VN MSJ VV1810