Lucknow, Aug 23 (IANS): The admission fee of Rs.35 has been scrapped in all government hospitals of Uttar Pradesh from Thursday, an official said.

The orders in this regard were issued by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Wednesday and were to be implemented with immediate effect. However, it would practically be enforced from Thursday across the state, a health official told IANS.

Besides this, the ambulance service has also been made free for the poor, pregnant women and children, officials added.

Announcing the benefits, the chief minister said that he was happy to have fulfilled the promise of free healthcare to the poor made in the Samajwadi Party (SP) election manifesto.

Yadav added that now the government would focus on cleanliness and adequate supplies of medicines and equipment in hospitals.

The government is also considering to open a paramedical college in Uttar Pradesh to bridge the shortage of paramedics in the state, officials said.