Ranchi, Nov. 24: The health department is planning to make clinical, pathological and diagnostic services free at government-run heal facilities across Jharkhand till December 30 to help citizens who are grappling with the liquidity crisis in the aftermath of demonetisation.

Health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi's office moved a proposal in this regard to chief minister Raghubar Das yesterday, seeking clearance to implement the same with immediate effect at 22 district hospitals and three medical colleges - RIMS (Ranchi), MGM (Jamshedpur) and PMCH in Dhanbad.

Additional chief secretary (health) K. Vidyasagar termed it a "relief strategy" and said they were hopeful of hearing from the CMO in a day or two.

"If implemented, all district hospitals and medical colleges will provide pathological services to patients for free till December 30," he added.

Vidyasagar said as soon as CMO approved the move, circulars would be sent to all government health centres.

Sources, however, said that X-Ray, MRI and CT Scan had not been included in the exemption proposal.

Private diagnostic and pathology chains, which are operating in PPP model at the three medical colleges and 22 district hospitals, will not be covered under this proposal and would continue to provide services as per CGHS rates. Nevertheless, such centres located at the medical colleges have been asked to cooperate.

Patients and their relatives have been facing serious problems since Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes were made illegal tenders. The worst suffers were those coming from far-flung areas with the scrapped notes to seek medical care at medical colleges and hospitals. They can neither use those notes nor do they have so much time to stand in bank queues to change/withdraw money to ensure timely treatment.Initially, even RIMS had refused to accept the scrapped currency notes but later adhered to the government circular and accepted them.