Civil Hospital in Phase VI of Mohali is paying more for parking than the consultation fee at the out-patient department (OPD). The parking ticket for cars at the hospital parking area is Rs 20 (from 7am to 8 pm) while the amount charged for consultation from a medical practitioner at the OPD is Rs 10.

Patients and their relatives visiting the hospital said that the parking fee was excessive for a government hospital. Some even said that the parking space for vehicles should be provided free of charge at the hospital.

“At hospitals in Chandigarh, the charge is Rs 2 for two-wheelers and Rs 10 for cars, respectively. They (authorities) should levy the same amount here,” said a relative of a patient at the hospital. A patient of the hospital said that it is strange that medicines are given free at the hospital, but one has to pay for parking.

A ward attendant at the hospital said that to avoid paying the parking fee, people usually park vehicles outside the hospital even though there was risk of the vehicle being towed away.

A resident living nearby said that the fee of Rs 20 for car for half day is high. It should be reduced for at least the family of patients who visit on a daily-basis. Dr Surinder Singh, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the hospital, said that the parking lots are auctioned to private contractors by the higher authorities for one year. The rate is fixed in the auction.

Adding on, he said that with the exception of an NGO some time back, people had not raised any complaints about the parking fee.