CHANDIGARH: Those wanting the comfort and privacy of a private room in PGI for their sick kin or friends will have to pay a bit more for it. Apparently working on the principle of making the well-off shell out more for availing medical facilities available at this referral institute, certain tests done free earlier, will have to be paid for now.

At a meeting of the institutes body on Wednesday, it has been decided to hike the room rent for the private ward and VIP rooms from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800, respectively from next week.

According to sources, the charges for a room in the private ward of advance paediatric centre have been enhanced from Rs 850 to

Rs 1,000. Now, patients who want medicine administered through the spinal chord will be charged Rs 500 something done free earlier. The medicine is pumped into the chord in cases of spasticity or patients with muscular stiffness who cannot move, said S Prabhakar, head of the neurology department, PGI.

The institute body also approved introduction of some laboratory tests proposed by the standing finance committee. The new tests will be conducted in the department of gastroentereolgy, endocrinology, neurology and hepatology.

A particular blood test in endocrinology will cost Rs 100 for the general ward and Rs 300 for those in the private ward, an official said.

There are 94 private beds and 10 VIP rooms, and many patients who can pay for a separate room. So, this move shall enhance PGIs revenue, said a faculty member.