Karnataka: Revenue from hiked user fee to be used for hospital development

Mangaluru: Acknowledging that the government has slightly increased user fees for different services in government hospitals, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao clarified that the additional revenue would not go to the state government but would be directly utilized for the development of the hospitals.

BJP leaders in Karnataka have strongly condemned the Congress government over the fee hike, making it a major issue in the state.

“The funds are used to improve services within the hospital. The Arogya Raksha Samitis of the hospitals decide on utilizing the user fees,” Rao said.

He criticized the BJP for creating a false narrative around the fee increase.

“They are making a hue and cry over a nominal hike in fees at government hospitals, but they fail to raise their voice against the Central Government cutting substantial grants to the state government,” he added.