The ACT government introduced $5 daily parking at both public hospital campuses in 2006. But the fee was abandoned the following year after a widespread community backlash.

In response to a talkback caller on ABC 666 radio on Friday, Ms Gallagher said payment for parking had been discussed by cabinet when it was considering plans for a new multistorey car park at Calvary Hospital.

Ms Gallagher said there should be a consistent approach to parking policy at both Calvary and Canberra hospitals.

''As part of that we were talking about the need to start looking at how we recover revenue around that and looking at a parking policy at both the hospitals,'' she said.

Ms Gallagher said the multistorey car park at Canberra Hospital had cost about $40 million and between $25 million and $30 million would probably be spent at Calvary.

''In terms of taxpayers' money that's about 70-odd million dollars going into just the car parking arrangements,'' she said.

''At the moment because we don't have paid parking, we're not recovering any of those funds for the community.

''So it is something that we're going to have to progress as part of the parking arrangements at Calvary and I agree it will need to be consistent across the campuses.''

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said hospital staff should not have to pay for parking.

''The last time the government introduced paid parking, it was an unmitigated disaster,'' Mr Hanson said.

''People visiting loved ones and hard-working hospital staff should not be forced to pay for Katy Gallagher's $20 million car park budget blowout.''

In a statement on Friday afternoon, Ms Gallagher said no decisions had been made on a new parking policy for hospitals.

''The government is considering a holistic parking strategy for ACT hospitals which takes into account factors including demand management for parking on hospital grounds, use of parking facilities by those not visiting the hospital and how hospital parking links with public transport,'' she said.

''No decisions have been taken at this point in time, however. Any decision will be taken in the context of further allocations for investment in parking infrastructure.''

Parking problems at Calvary and Canberra hospitals are exacerbated by people who park their cars and then leave the campus to walk or catch buses to work. It has previously been suggested that free parking at the hospitals be restricted to staff, patients and visitors.

This year's ACT budget included $1.3 million for design of a multistorey car park to free up space on the Calvary Hospital campus.

A private hospital will be built on the campus to enable private beds in the existing hospital to be taken over by the public system.