**Policy Summary: Health Facilities and User Charges in Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli**
This policy addresses the provision of health services and associated charges within government hospitals in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, responding to concerns raised regarding the constitutional right to health.
**Key Findings:**
* **Free Services:** All services are provided free of cost at Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres, and Community Health Centres within the Union Territory.
* **User Charges at District Hospitals:** Minimal user charges are applied for some services at District Hospitals, managed under the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Patient Welfare Committee) framework, as per Government of India guidelines.
* **Exemptions:** The following categories are exempt from user charges:
* Individuals Below the Poverty Line (BPL)
* Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST)
* Freedom Fighters
* Emergency and Medico-Legal Cases
* Patients admitted under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
* Pregnant women up to 6 weeks post-delivery and children up to 1 year of age.
* **Exemption Committee:** A committee, constituted by the District Collector, is authorized to grant user charge exemptions for other categories of patients unable to pay. The committee comprises:
* Medical Superintendent/Assistant Medical Superintendent (Chairperson)
* Nursing Superintendent/In-charge Quality Assurance Hospital Manager
* Accountant of the District Hospital
* One elected representative nominated by the District Panchayat.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Union Government Ministry responsible for health policy in India.
Daman and Diu: A Union Territory in India.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India.
Article 21 of the Constitution of India: Article of the Indian Constitution related to the Right to Life and Personal Liberty, interpreted to include 'Right to Health'.
Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs: A network of primary healthcare facilities in India.
Primary Health Centres: Basic healthcare facilities in India.
Community Health Centres: Referral units for Primary Health Centres in India.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): A national public health insurance scheme in India.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2268
TOBE ANSWERED ON01ST AUGUST,2025
HEALTH FACILITIES IN DAMAN AND DIUAND DADRAAND NAGAR HAVELI
†2268.SHRIPATELUMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the rates being charged to patients for X-ray, CT-scan, MRI and other facilities in
Government hospitals of DamanandDiu andDadra andNagar Haveli;
(b) whether it is a deviation from the principles of Constitution to charge fee to patients for
essential health services at Government health facility considering that in Article 21 of the
ConstitutionofIndia,'RighttoHealth'isinherentlyrecognized;
(c)whetherthereisanysuchfacilityinUTsofDamanandDiuandDadraandNagarHaveli where
patients can avail free treatments in order to ensure the effective implementation of Right to
HealthunderArticle 21; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (d): All services at Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres and Community
Health Centres in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are free of
cost.
However, at District Hospitals, minimal charges for some services are taken as ‘User
Charges’ under Rogi Kalyan Samiti in accordance with the provisions in the “Guidelines for
Rogi Kalyan Samities in Public Health Facilities” issued by Government of India. Further, there
isexemption of chargesfor categories(i) BPLcategory (ii)SC/STcategory(iii) FreedomFighter
(iv) persons with Emergency and Medical Legal cases (v) Patients admitted under Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and (vi) Pregnant women upto 6 weeks after delivery and
child upto 1 year of age. Also, there is a Committee constituted by Collector of the district
concerned authorized for the exemption of user charges for any other category where patient is
not able topaythe charges. The composition of the Committee isasbelow:S. Composition Designation
No.
1 Medical Superintendent /Assistant Medical Superintendent Chairperson
2 Nursing Superintendent / I/c.QualityAssurance / Hospital Member
Manager of the District Hospital
3 Accountant of the District Hospital Member
4 One elected representative nominatedbyDistrict Panchayat Nominated
Member
*****