Shimla, June 6 -- The Himachal Pradesh government has not recommended charging of consultation fee of Rs 10 from patients at the time registration but has authorised patient welfare committees to levy user charges on need basis to strengthen and improve their services, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday. Sukhu on Thursday clarified that the government has not recommended charging of consultation fee of Rs 10 from patients at the time of registration. "Hospitals have been made autonomous. If they are collecting Rs 10 for cleanliness or management, it is not under government instruction. They are free to regulate internally, but we have only sought feedback-not enforced any such fee," said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday. According to a notification issued by the state health department on Monday, Rogi Kalyan Samities have been authorised to levy user charges on need basis to strengthen and improve services like sanitation, hygiene and maintenance of infrastructure and equipment. "A consultation fee of Rs 10 would be charged from all patients at the time of registration," the notification reads. Earlier, registrations and consultations were provided free of cost to the patients. Sukhu said if Rogi Kalyan Samities are satisfied that the financial positions of a hospital are good, they have the option of not imposing the charges. Former chief minister Jairam Thakur had on Wednesday slammed the Sukhu government and said, "There is nothing left on earth on which it has not imposed tax."...