Visakhapatnam: With the state’s health schemes and technology advancements driving the patients towards corporate hospitals, thousands of small hospitals and nursing homes are finding it difficult to remain in business.
A majority of these hospitals, which stayed as a backbone of healthcare industry for decades, were not empanelled under the NTR Vaidya Seva (formerly Arogyasri). The Vaidya Seva mandates certain facilities, infrastructure and beds to empanel the hospital as a network hospital under the scheme.
Not in a position to aggressively pump money into the infrastructure and a majority being single-speciality driven, the hospitals are struggling to get all the permissions to set up a hospital as it involves the same procedures applicable to the corporate hospitals. As these were left out of the purview of Vaidya Seva, the patients are left with no choice than to opt for the network hospitals.
General secretary, Andhra Pradesh Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (APNA), Dr. P. Srinivas said that it was their long-pending demand before the government to include the 10-bed hospitals in the Vaidya Seva.
“What is the need for a small five-bed hospital to procure a fire NOC? We have to run from pillar to post to establish a hospital as it requires permissions from tens of departments under the Establishments Act.”
Earlier, these small hospitals used to serve under various health schemes. After the introduction of Arogyasri, the situation has changed.
The APNA has been demanding the government to frame separate guidelines for the small hospitals, considering their medical services at very nominal prices. “The state government has been charging various taxes from us on par with corporate hospitals. We cannot afford all these as we have been running the hospitals with a service motive.”
Co-chairman of the Doctors’ Cell of AP Congress Committee, Dr. A. Naga Radhakrishna, demanded the government to extend the NTR Vaidya Seva to small hospitals.
“These hospitals provide treatment at a cheaper price, which could save crores of rupees to the government. As there is no choice, the corporate hospitals are charging the maximum cap of Rs 2.5 lakh under NTR Vaidya Seva at the first visit itself.”
The scheme has lost its purpose due to no commitment on the part of government. We are ready to extend our suggestions if the government calls for an all-party meeting,” Mr. Radhakrishna added.
