Expect 20% rise in treatment cost at govt hospitals across state from January 1

MUMBAI: Treatment at all state-run hospitals across Maharashtra will become costlier by an average of 20% from January 1. The cost of the humble case paper will double from Rs 10 per file while patients seeking disability certificates for jobs will have to shell out Rs 500 against Rs 150 at present.

In Mumbai, the decision will affect 3,000 patients who seek treatment at the four J J Group of Hospitals—J J Hospital in Byculla, Cama, St George’s and G T hospitals near CST.


Close to 20,000 patients visit the 19 state-run hospitals in a day across the state.

“In the new year, we will revise the prices of 1,129 services, including surgeries and diagnostics,” said Dr T P Lahane, joint director of the department of medical education and research (DMER). He underlined, though, that almost 80% of patients are treated at state hospitals under various state-run scheme. There have been no revision in charges for the past eight years, said government officials.

Public hospitals don’t charge for usual hospital beds, but surgery charges will be revised from Rs 140 at present to Rs 250.

The cost of nursing home beds (against ward beds) will be revised from Rs 500 per day to Rs 800. After an eight-day stay, patients will have to pay Rs 2000 per day—up from Rs 1,000 now.

The revision will be done mainly to raise maintenance funds for equipment. The administration’s logic is that higher fees would help deans of medical colleges or medical superintendents of hospitals to raise funds for immediate repairs needed for equipment.

“It is better for patients if a CT scanner needing repairs is fixed soon,” he said.

The cost of disability certificates for job-seekers has been revised to discourage people from unnecessarily queuing up at government hospitals. “However, the cost of the plain disability certificate will continue at Rs 150,” he added.