Pims wants to increase patient fee, surgical procedure charges.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) wants to increase the patient fee and charges of surgical procedures, which were fixed almost four decades ago.

'The amount generated after the increase in the fee and surgical procedure charges will be used for the development of the hospital,' Pims Executive Director Dr Ansar Maxood said at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services.

The meeting, chaired by MQM Senator Khushbakht Shujat, discussed the pathetic condition of public hospitals raised by PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi.

Dr Maxood said the hospital could generate revenue if it was allowed to charge private patients.

'We will charge only those patients who can afford. That amount will be spent on those who cannot afford the fee,' he said.

The committee chairperson said it was unfortunate that poor people didn't get health facilities.

'People prefer to die rather than becoming ill,' she said, and asked the Pims executive director to submit the proposals so that the committee would look into them.

Later, Dr Maxood told Dawn that the charges were fixed almost four decades ago.

'We charge Rs10 as the patient fee, Rs40 for X-ray and nominal charges for other procedures. Private hospitals have been charging Rs50,000 for normal deliveries but we are not allowed to charge even Rs10,000 for deliveries. We will file proposals with the committee.' He said once they received a nod from the committee they would request the Ministry of National Health Services to allow it...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT