Guwahati, Aug 29 - Patients admitted to government hospitals in Assam will receive a day cash allowance of up to Rs.100 besides free meals and medicines, an official said Saturday.

The bonanza will be for those who get treated in medical college hospitals and other district health centres under a Rs.50 million Assam government scheme.

As part of the scheme named 'Maram' (Assamese for love), a patient in medical college hospitals will receive Rs.100 daily in cash while those in district hospitals will get Rs.75. The scheme will start Sep 15.

'This is undoubtedly the first such scheme in the country. It is aimed at providing financial relief to patients,' Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told IANS.

Patients in government hospitals will also be entitled to free medicines and food, he said.

'The cash will be handed over to the patient every night by the hospital staff for a maximum period of seven days,' the minister said.

'Patients admitted with serious illness and requiring extended stay in hospitals will be assessed on a case-to-case basis. If deemed fit we shall continue to pay them the daily allowance.'

Sarma said the idea was to ease the financial burden of patients admitted to government hospitals.