Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Thiruvananthapuram, which issued orders revising the daily rates for ICU admissions and ventilator use, has been forced to withdraw the order following the intervention of the Health Minister.
On Monday, it was reported in the media that the hospital development society had decided to hike the daily usage charges for ventilator for all category of ration cards, except the yellow card holders.
However, by evening, a press release issued by the office of the Health Minister said that the government had not decided to hike ICU or ventilator charges and that the old rates would prevail.
This was followed by a statement by the MCH Superintendent that the revised rates would be withdrawn.
MCH Superintendent, A. Nizaruddin, said that the ICU/ventilator services would be free for all except APL ration card holders.
Since ICU/ventilator charges are included in the various treatment packages being implemented in MCH, additional levies would be avoided, the statement issued by the Superintendent said.
