Hyderabad: Private hospitals stop Aarogyasri as bills not paid
There are 27 small hospitals and 23 super speciality hospitals which had signed up Aarogyasri facility.
Hyderabad: With bills worth up to Rs 1,000 crores due from the government, 50 private hospitals on Saturday stopped providing healthcare to Aarogyasri patients.
Speaking to this newspaper, Dr V. Rakesh, the president of Telangana Aarogya-sri Hospitals Association, said, “We want a detailed account of the money that is due from the government. The list that we are giving from time to time is being set aside and there was no action taken. We want the government to tell us how much is pending and clear the dues immediately. We are not going to admit any patients till the dues upto June 2019 are cleared.”
From November last year, the government has paid only Rs 212 crore — Rs 112 crores in November and Rs 100 crore in March after the hospital managements raised a hue and cry.
There are 27 small hospitals and 23 super speciality hospitals which had signed up Aarogyasri facility.
The Aarogyasri patients make up 80 per cent of the patient load in all the hospitals and delayed payments are putting financial strain on hospitals.
The small hospitals claim that financial crisis caused by delayed payment is making them suspectible to takeovers by other hospital groups.
Attempts to contact Aarogysri CEO Manicka Raj failed as he didn’t respond to calls.
Apart from hospitals, pharmaceutical representatives, implant suppliers and para medical staff were also demanding the government pay them their dues.