VEHICLES that park in public hospitals not for treatment purposes will be charged 15 yuan (US$2.26) for the first hour, according to a differentiated fare system unveiled by the Shenzhen planning and reform commission.

The move aims at relieving parking difficulties at public hospitals, according to the draft plan on the differentiated fare system, which is seeking public feedback.

According to the draft plan, vehicles parking at hospitals will be divided into two categories: vehicles carrying patients and vehicles for non-treatment purposes. They will be charged differently for parking fees.

During the peak period between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., vehicles carrying patients either for clinic or emergency treatment will be charged 10 yuan a day. Drivers are required to provide treatment receipts at clinics, deposit slips or receipts at impatient departments as proof when paying for the parking fees.

For vehicles parked at a hospital for non-treatment purposes, the drivers will be charged 15 yuan for the first hour during peak period and an additional 3 yuan for every 30 minutes.

During the off-peak hours between 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., the parking fee will be set at 5 yuan per vehicle for vehicles carrying patients. For vehicles for non-treatment purposes, the fee is 10 yuan per vehicle.

For big and heavy vehicles, which weigh generally above 2 tons or have more than 20 seats, the parking fees will double the standards for cars. For these vehicles that park no longer than 30 minutes, no fee will be charged.

The purpose of imposing a flexible parking fare rule is to relieve parking difficulties at hospitals. Under the current rules, vehicles parked at hospitals are charged 5 yuan and 10 yuan a day for outdoor and indoor parking, respectively, with a clinic or inpatient receipt or medical record. The low fares have attracted many drivers who are not seeking treatment to park their vehicles in hospital parking lots, which are generally located downtown and in other busy areas.

The combination of a shortage of parking spaces and low parking fees has worsened parking difficulties at hospitals, so the fee program aims to make full use of the limited parking resources on behalf of patients.

(Han Ximin, He Mufu)