Now Reading: IGMC Shimla to raise robotic surgery fee, charge for X-rays
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IGMC Shimla to raise robotic surgery fee, charge for X-rays
The Story in Brief
Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla will increase fees for robotic surgery and start charging patients for X-rays, which were free until now. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti on Friday, 23 October 2026.
The hospital management has set a current fee of Rs 30,000 for robotic surgery in general wards and Rs 50,000 in special wards, but says the cost of expensive equipment is not being fully recovered. A committee has been formed to determine new rates. The fee proposal will be sent for government approval before the new charges are applied. X-ray charges will be based on rates fixed in 2022.
Shimla mayor Surendra Chauhan attended the meeting. The new rates will directly affect patients' expenses.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The fee increase shifts more of IGMC's equipment cost onto patients, reversing a period when X-rays were free. The hospital admits the current robotic surgery fee of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 does not cover expenses. A committee will propose new rates, but they take effect only after government approval, leaving the timeline uncertain. Patients now face higher out-of-pocket costs for both advanced surgery and basic diagnostics.
Source: amarujala.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
