Assam Cancer Institute Slaps Patients With Massive Fee Hikes

Guwahati: Patients at the State Cancer Institute in Assam are reeling. A new fee schedule took effect on July 22, and it hits the wallet hard. Costs for diagnostic tests and hospital services surged across the board.

Hospital bed rates spiked eightfold. They jumped from Rs 200 to Rs 1,600 per day. Cytology tests now cost Rs 630, up from a mere Rs 50. Biopsy procedures also saw a significant hike, rising from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,700.

The price increases do not stop there. Blood test charges grew by roughly 60 percent. Marker tests, used by doctors to assess specific cancer conditions, climbed from Rs 900 to Rs 2,000.

Families are worried. Many now face a crushing financial burden for standard care. Reports also indicate the institute stopped providing free medicine supplies. Patients who previously relied on these government-backed drugs must now cover those expenses out of pocket.