Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Friday announced that the Kerala government has decided to remove the income criterion for availing pay ward facilities in government hospitals, enabling patients to access the service irrespective of their income. According to an official statement, the minister has directed the Health Department Principal Secretary to issue necessary orders in this regard. The existing income-based criteria had prevented many low-income patients from booking pay wards, the statement said. When they later seek to book a pay ward, the income criterion becomes a hurdle. Also Read:Kerala Hospital ward shutdown after 10 cobras spotted, patients relocated