MNJ doctors: Pay dues of Aarogyasri

Hyderabad: Doctors and staff at MNJ Cancer Hospital have complained to the principal secretary, health, that the Aarogyasri funds sanctioned to the hospital are not being utilised properly. In a strongly worded letter, they said a separate account for managing the funds had not been created as was ordered by the government. After utilising the Aarogyasri funds for a patient, one per cent of the pending amount is supposed to be given to the staff as incentive and 75 per cent is to be used to develop the hospital.

A senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said, “Having a separate account will give clarity on the funds that are utilised under Aarogyasri and how much can be re-directed towards employees and the development of the hospital.” Every year, the MNJ Cancer Hospital receives over 1 lakh cancer patients. Ninety per cent of these patients are covered under Aarogyasri, a senior doctor said.

“Meetings have been held for the last eight years on opening a separate account but no action has been taken. With MNJ now being expanded and the building requiring repairs and new equipment, this demand has been put forward to the state government.” Hospital director Dr N. Jaya Latha refused to comment on the subject stating that the hospital faculty had directly approached the principal secretary and the issue would be taken up by the state government.