Hospital Fee Generates Row in Himachal: “Cruel Joke on the Poor,” Slams BJP MLA Dr Janak Raj, former HoD Neurosurgery, IGMC Shimla...
Shimla, June 4, 2025
The Himachal Pradesh government’s move to charge ₹10 for OPD slips and impose fees on 133 diagnostic tests from June 5 has sparked outrage, with BJP MLA Dr Janak Raj calling it “a cruel joke on the poor and a direct assault on constitutional rights.”
“A daily wager earning ₹300 can’t afford this. It’s not reform—it’s exploitation,” said Dr Janak, former HoD, Neurosurgery, IGMC Shimla.
He slammed the Congress-led Sukhu government for ignoring Article 21 of the Constitution and key Supreme Court rulings that mandate free healthcare access.
“Instead of fixing broken PHCs and clearing Himcare dues, the govt is taxing the sick. This only helps private hospitals,” he said.
Calling for immediate rollback, he demanded exemptions for BPL families, the elderly, and the disabled.
“Healthcare is a right, not a revenue source. Tax the rich—not the poor,” he hit out.
With public anger rising, the move may turn into a flashpoint for the ruling government.
#HealthcareNotForSale #HimachalAgainstFees #RightToHealth #RollbackNow
