A health ministry panel has approved an increase in medical care costs at hospitals, paving the way for higher staff wages, more inflation measures and expanding telehealth services.

According to the fee changes adopted by the panel on Friday, patients will be charged more for hospital visits ¡ª which are covered by the public health insurance system ¡ª in various ways.

The government has created a new category to respond to inflation, allowing hospitals to charge every patient ?20 more per visit as a consultation fee.