Description of Ward categories, Nursing care charges, ICU and Critical Care Unit Charges, Equipment Charges – Annexure III of CGHS O.M. F.No.5-16/CGHS(HQ) /HEC/2024(Part I) dated 03.10.2025
Annexure-III
Description of Ward categories, Nursing care charges, ICU and Critical Care Unit Charges, Equipment Charges
1. Ward categories
Room rent or ward charges are consolidated charges and shall comprehensively include the following components (but not limited to):
- Accommodation charges and medical record charges
- Duty Medical officer charges.
- Nursing care charges (inclusive as detailed below)
- Registration and admission charges
- Welcome kit
- Air bed, water bed, alpha bed etc
- Luxury tax, surcharge
- Air conditioning/HVAC charges
- Electricity and water charges
- Housekeeping services
- Infection control services
- Biomedical waste management
- Portable/bedside/emergency services
- Laundry services
- Patient identification bands, bed sheets, patient gown
- Visitor passes
- Duty doctor/Resident doctor charges
- Diet and dietician services
- Issue of discharge summary, investigation reports, warranty cards outer pouches of implants, stickers.
The above elements are considered integral to the room rent and must not be charged separately under any circumstances.
2. Nursing care Charges
Nursing care forms an essential part of the ward package and shall include, but is not limited to, the following services:
- Medication administration (oral, IV, IM)
- IV cannulation and infusion management
- Ambulation/mobilization of patient
- Ryle’s tube feeding and enteral nutrition support
- Care of catheters (urinary, ICD, central lines, etc.)
- Wound and bedsore care
- Tracheostomy care and oral hygiene
- Personal hygiene and sponge bathing
- Patient monitoring and recording
- Health education to patient and/or caregiver Nursing care charges are bundled in the ward charges and therefore not payable separately or billable to the patient.
3. ICU and Critical Care Unit Charges
Critical care services (ICU/CCU/ICCU/PICU/MICU/NICU, etc.) shall be considered standardized units with an inclusive package that covers:
- All medical and nursing care as described above in point 1 & 2 in the critical care setting
- Monitoring, equipment, oxygen support, infection control, Nursing care assistance, and other ICU-specific consumables and services
Standard ICU charges per day:
| Hospital Category | ICU Rate (INR/day) |
| NABH-accredited/Non-NABH | ₹5,400 |
These ICU rates apply uniformly across all ward entitlements, city category, type of hospitals and no additional charges are permissible for items included in ICU care.
4. Equipment Charges
Charges related to the use of medical equipment during inpatient or surgical procedures shall be considered inclusive within room rent or procedural package rates. These include:
- C-arm, surgical OT equipment
- DVT pump, infusion pump
- Portable X-ray or bedside diagnostics
- Attendant bed (in case of private and higher ward entitlement)
- Any other machine or device used during the patient’s stay or surgery Separate billing for equipment usage is not permitted.
Table.1 Summary of Ward categories.
| Ward charges will include charges for occupation of bed, diet for the patient, charges for water and electricity supply, linen charges, Nursing care charges and routine up keeping and RMO/ Duty Medical Officer charges. | ||||
| S. No | Categories | As per basic | Description | Room Charges |
| 1 | General Ward | 0 – Rs.36,500 | General ward is defined as hall that accommodates four to ten patients. | 1500 |
| 2 | Semi-Private Ward | Rs. 36,501 to Rs 50,500 | Semi Private ward is defined as a hospital room where two to three patients are accommodated and which has attached toilet facilities and necessary furnishings. 2-way IP based nurse call system and Room has to be Air conditioned | 3000 |
| 3 | Private Ward | Rs. 50,501 and above |
Private ward is defined as a hospital room where single patient is accommodated and which has an attached toilet (lavatory and bath). The room should have furnishings like wardrobe, dressing table, bed-side table, sofa set, ete. as well as a bed for attendant. The room has to be air- conditioned. 2-way IP based nurse call system. Room rent will include charges for occupation of bed, diet for the patient, charges for water and electricity supply, linen charges, Nursing care charges and routine up keeping and RMO/ Duty Medical Officer Charges | 4500 |
| 5 | ICU/ ICCU/ NICU/ PIC U/ HDU/ ISOLATION ward- | same for all categories of ward entitlement | Monitoring charges and O2 charges are included. Ventilator charges are excluded | 5400 |
| 6 | Day care | same for all categories of ward entitlement | Any procedure which doesn’t requires admission in entitled ward /patient is admitted for monitoring in case emergency in EMR or casualty. (6 Hrs to 8 Hrs) | 1500 |
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Read: CGHS rates applicable for treatment at healthcare organisations located at X, Y and Z cities
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