SHENZHEN’S planning authority will pilot a program to raise parking fees at six hospitals starting in June to relieve parking difficulties and make full use of the limited parking resources for patients.

    Vehicles parking for non-treatment purposes at Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen No. 2 People’s Hospital, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen Maternity and Children Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital and Shenzhen Children’s Hospital will be charged 15 yuan (US$2.17) for the first hour between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and an additional 3 yuan for every additional 30 minutes. If a car is parked at the hospital for 12 hours, the driver will need to pay 81 yuan, which is much higher than the present fee.

    Vehicles for treatment purposes will be charged 10 yuan per vehicle per day during the peak period between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Motorists can show their clinic or inpatient receipt or medical record to enjoy the low price.

    At present, vehicles parked at hospitals are charged 5 yuan and 10 yuan per day for outdoor and indoor parking, respectively.

    The city’s planning and reform commission said that the differentiated fare mechanism was established to relieve parking difficulties at the hospitals and congestion around the hospital areas. The low fares have attracted many drivers who are not seeking treatment to park their vehicles in hospital parking lots, which are generally located in downtown or other busy areas.

    During the non-peak period, the fee is 5 yuan for vehicles parked for treatment purposes and 10 yuan for vehicles for non-treatment purposes. The fee will be free for vehicles parked for less than 30 minutes. Vehicles weighing over 2 tons or having more than 20 seats will be treated as big vehicles and the fees will double.

    A recent survey organized by the commission showed that in a week, the number of vehicles parked at Shenzhen People’s Hospital for non-treatment purposes accounted for 76 percent of the total. It was followed by Peking University Shenzhen Hospital at 47 percent, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital at 44 percent, and Shenzhen No. 2 People’s Hospital at 5 percent. (Han Ximin)