Himanta asks state cancer institute not to take advance money from patients
Himanta Biswa Sarma
has intervened to halt the State Cancer Institute's controversial proposal to demand a Rs 10,000 'advance money' fee.
The institute, part of the Assam Cancer Care Foundation — a collaboration between the Assam government and Tata Trusts — faced backlash over the proposed fee and revised charges. Addressing the media, Sarma clarified that the demand for advance payment was a misunderstanding and instructed its withdrawal. He assured that while some fees might increase, they would not impact patients in need.
"It is wrong to ask for Rs 10,000 advance.
I asked them to withdraw this," Sarma said. He, however, added that an increase in charges against other heads would not affect the needy patients. "The amount for the rest of the charges will come from Delhi. Thus, if more money comes from Delhi after some hike and that amount is spent for cancer patients, what's the harm in it?" he asked.
He said the cost of cancer treatment need not be paid by patients from their pockets.
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"It will come from the govt through Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Asom cards," he clarified. Sarma added that if there is any increase in general bed charges, the amount will come through the health cards. "If payments are made through cards, we will get the money from Delhi," he said.
Sarma said he convened a meeting with the authorities concerned later on Wednesday and the matter would be resolved.
According to officials at the State Cancer Institute, following the repercussions from the public, they were instructed to continue with the existing charge of Rs 2,000 per day for a single cabin (twin sharing) and not to hike it to Rs 3,000.
For a single sharing cabin, the fee would not be increased to Rs 4,500 per day from the existing Rs 3,000 immediately. It was also planned that the registration fee, which was Rs 100 earlier, would drop to Rs 10, but another fee called a consultation fee of Rs 100 would be added.
As per the plan, along with the Rs 10 for registration, the initial amount to be paid by a patient was about to be increased to Rs 110.
The officials said certain issues like the fee for general beds and chemotherapy charges would be resolved only after talks with the CM.
An estimated 95% of patients who come to the hospital avail free of cost treatment through Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna cards, officials said.
"The plan to hike the fees was under a pilot project but was not charged from any patient. We are waiting for the outcome of the meeting convened by the CM,' said a hospital official, adding, the meeting was underway at the time of filing this report.
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