Patients visiting the state-run hospitals will not be required to pay user fees from this Independence Day, as per a Odisha government decision.

Health and Family Welfare secretary P K Meherda communicated the government decision through letters to the district collectors and municipal corporation chiefs. The user fee waiver will be applicable in all government facilities, from primary health centres to district headquarters hospitals, the letter sent on August 1 said.

However, the cabin fee of in-patient department (IPD) will not be included in the user fee waiver plan, it said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while announcing the Biju Swastha Kalyan Yojana in June had assured the people of Odisha that they would not be required to pay any user fee from August 15. Presently, the government charges Rs 5 each for the patients visiting out patient department of government hospitals and Rs 10 from IPD patients as user fees, officials said.