Doon Hospital has revised its free-billing approval system, transferring the authority exclusively to the Medical Superintendent and Deputy Medical Superintendent. The new arrangement will come into effect from Friday, with all previous orders on the matter being revoked.
As per the updated protocol, only these two senior officials, or officers designated by them in their absence, will be able to approve free-billing cases. The hospital administration stated that the move aims to strengthen transparency, monitoring, and accountability to ensure that the benefit reaches only eligible patients.
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However, the hospital has retained the earlier system in emergencies. For unclaimed patients, road accident victims, and burn cases, the Emergency Medical Officer (EMO) will continue to have the power to approve free-billing to avoid any delay in critical treatment.
Medical Superintendent Dr RS Bisht said department heads and unit in-charges have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the order. He warned that negligence or non-adherence would lead to responsibility being fixed on the concerned officials.
The decision has sparked concerns regarding accessibility for general patients. Doon Hospital’s OPD, IPD, and emergency wings are located in different parts of the campus, forcing patients to move between buildings to complete the approval process.
Previously, designated doctors in the OPD handled free-billing approvals on specific days. Now, with the authority vested only in the top two officials, who are frequently engaged in administrative work, patients may experience longer wait times and additional effort to secure approval. Although the EMO retains authority, OPD patients may still have to travel to the emergency wing for clearance.
The free-billing facility is currently offered to dependents of freedom fighters, statehood activists, accredited journalists, and select eligible categories.