Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 22:00 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 16:19 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Central Referral Hospital (CRH), Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), on Tuesday announced the launch of the Dr TMA Pai Wellness Scheme, a major healthcare initiative aimed at making quality treatment more affordable for patients from Sikkim and neighbouring regions.
The scheme, which comes into effect from July 15, offers 100 per cent waiver on general ward hospitalisation charges, including bed charges, inpatient consultation fees, surgical and procedure charges, nursing services and administrative charges, besides free routine outpatient consultations that have already been in place since August last year.
The announcement was made during a press conference addressed by Dr. Muralidhar M. Pai, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) and Dr. G.K. Prabhu, Vice Chancellor, SMU, in the presence of Dr. Karma Sonam Sherpa, Registrar, SMU, Dr. Mohonish N. Chettri, Deputy Medical Superintendent, CRH, and Mr. Subhendhu Prakash, Chief Operating Officer, CRH.
Dr. Muralidhar M. Pai said the initiative has been introduced as part of the institution's landmark year, marking 30 years of Central Referral Hospital, the Silver Jubilee of SMIMS, and the 90th birth anniversaries of the institution's founder Dr TMA Pai.
"This is very good news for the people of Sikkim. Through the Dr TMA Pai Wellness Scheme, we want to ensure that quality healthcare becomes affordable and accessible to everyone. Patients should never delay treatment because of financial constraints," he said.
He said patients admitted to the general ward under the scheme will not have to pay for bed charges, consultations by specialists during hospital stay, nursing services, operation theatre charges, surgical procedures or administrative expenses.
"Inpatient services in the general ward, consultations, operation charges and procedures will all be completely free. We have also selected 20 routine laboratory investigations which will be provided free of cost," Dr. Pai said.
For investigations not included in the free list but conducted within CRH, patients will receive a 50 per cent concession, while investigations outsourced to external laboratories will be charged at actual cost.
The hospital has also introduced highly subsidised radiology rates under the scheme, fixing MRI scans at Rs 2,000, CT scans at Rs 600, ultrasound examinations at Rs 200, and X-rays at Rs 60. An additional Rs 1,000 will be charged wherever contrast studies are required.
Patients will also receive a 10 per cent discount on medicines and consumables purchased from the hospital pharmacy, while implants and outsourced tests will continue to be charged at Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
The scheme also extends benefits to patients requiring intensive care, with 50 per cent concession on eligible ICU and NICU hospital charges, excluding pharmacy, investigations, imaging and consumables.
Dr. Pai said the scheme has been designed to substantially reduce the cost of hospitalisation while maintaining high standards of medical care.
"We are not launching this scheme to increase patient load. We genuinely want people to know that affordable healthcare is available and that they should make full use of these facilities," he said.
He added that the initiative is intended not only for residents of Sikkim but also for patients from neighbouring districts, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri, as well as other adjoining regions.
Vice Chancellor Dr. G.K. Prabhu said the initiative reflects the university's commitment to affordable, quality healthcare.
"Healthcare is becoming increasingly expensive. Through this scheme, we are trying to reduce the financial burden on a larger section of society while ensuring that patients continue to receive quality treatment. With the strength of the Manipal network, our patients also benefit from visiting specialists and advanced referral support whenever required," he said.
According to hospital authorities, the scheme aims to improve access to affordable healthcare, reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, encourage timely medical treatment, support patients requiring prolonged hospitalisation and strengthen CRH's commitment to community healthcare.
The scheme covers 100 per cent free general ward admissions, provided patients are admitted for a minimum of 72 hours and receive approval from the competent authority.
It also includes 20 essential laboratory investigations free of cost, namely sodium, potassium, creatinine, urea, complete urine analysis, liver function test (LFT), C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting blood sugar, uric acid, post-prandial blood sugar, Widal test, BTCT, haemoglobin, reticulocyte count, peripheral smear, urinary uric acid, CBC with ESR, CBC with ESR and blood smear study, AFB sputum examination and random blood glucose.
Hospital authorities clarified that the scheme will not be available for beneficiaries already covered under government or private health insurance schemes, staff, students, emergency room admissions, dialysis patients, Prime OPD admissions, visiting consultant cases and patients admitted to private wards or certain super-speciality services.
Unlike previous healthcare benefit programmes, patients will not be required to produce any special card or enrolment documents to avail the scheme.
"You do not have to bring any documents. If you have come to us as a patient, that itself is enough. There is no need for recommendations or influence from anyone. Everybody deserves treatment," hospital officials said during the interaction.
The authorities also clarified that the Dr TMA Pai Wellness Scheme has no fixed validity period and is intended to continue as a permanent patient welfare initiative.
Patients seeking further information regarding eligibility or enrolment may contact the CRH helpline at 1800-120-2114 or visit Central Referral Hospital, Sikkim Manipal University.
