Private hospitals flout Aarogyasri norms

KAKINADA: Some private hospitals are collecting money from Covid-19 patients being treated under the Aarogyasri scheme.

Rajamahendravaram Lok Sabha Member M. Bharat learnt of this during a 'Rachabanda' programme held at his camp office in Rajamahendravaram on Thursday. The family members of a covid-19 patient took it to his notice that a private hospital in Rajamahendravaram collected Rs 3 lakh from them, though the patient was admitted under the Aarogyasri scheme.

Expressing anger at the hospital management, Bharat phoned the nodal officer of the private hospital and directed him to enquire about it and take appropriate action against the hospital.

He also said that steps should be taken to make the hospital repay the money as the government would reimburse all treatment under the scheme. He said that private hospitals had no right to demand money from the Aarogyasri patients and would take the issue to the notice of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Health Minister Alla Kalikrishna Srinivas to stop this practice by the private hospitals.

Many people submitted representations to the MP for sanction of rations cards, YSRC Insurance, resolution of land disputes or family matters and others. Rajamahendravaram YSRC rural coordinator Chandana Nageswar, Rajamahendravaram parliament district YSRC spokesperson Sagar and others were present.