Hyderabad: Aarogyasri fails patients again

Hyderabad: Aarogyasri patients utilising the out-patient facility of private hospitals for common diseases like fever, respiratory illnesses were refused treatment in the city on Tuesday.

Hospitals claimed that the government owed them Rs 1,200 crores and hence, they would not treat the patients.

Dr T. Narsinga Reddy, a senior member of the Telangana Small Nursing Homes Association said, “We have been having constant meetings with the government but the response in terms of payment has only been assurance. Last time they released Rs 100 crores when the total pending amount was Rs 700 crores. Now it has increased and it is becoming extremely difficult for us to continue the scheme.”

The hospitals have put up banners outside the hospital stating that no out-patient will be taken in for treatment and only in-patients who need treatment on an urgent basis will be given treatment. Hospitals have also stated that they will not see out-patients till December 1. After that if the government still refuses to pay, then the hospitals have warned that even the in-patients will not be taken in.

Aarogyasri department officials said that they had been regularly clearing the bills but it was a time-consuming task. With the state now in election mode, taking a decision on the claim of the hospitals was not possible for them. A senior health official explained, “The Aarogyasri claims were not being reimbursed in the same manner as done earlier. The credit cycle has extended from three months which is leading to more money becoming overdue. To add to this, the hospitals are giving inflated bills hence checking them and then reimbursing is taking time.”