Hyderabad: Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association (TANHA) late on Thursday night refused to call off their strike. The association said that it had met with Aarogyasri CEO Shiva Shanker, to express its dissatisfaction with the “token release” of `100 crore to clear their dues.
The association called for revision of rates under Aarogyasri. It also called for the “unilateral” MoU which governs the scheme.
The association called for regular payments to network hospitals and clearance of `1,100 crore pending dues, and reversal of the approval package reductions of 25 to 30 per cent.
TANHA president Dr V. Rakesh also said that district-level hospitals, which shoulder most of the work under Aarogyasri, were being overlooked in policy decisions.
“Most of the work under Aarogyasri is carried out by small and mid-sized hospitals in districts, yet their concerns are not prioritised. This scheme, initiated by the party in government, has failed to address our pressing issues despite our hopes,” he said.
Adding to the financial stress, TANHA noted that payments under EHS and JHS remain pending for over 18 months. Dr. Rakesh further stated, “The scheme’s financial sustainability is being compromised, leaving district hospitals in particular at a breaking point. Hospitals have incurred ₹100 crore per month to maintain services, yet our dues continue to pile up.”
The association urged the Chief Minister and Aarogyasri officials to take immediate steps to resolve these issues. Until a concrete resolution is provided, TANHA has confirmed its decision to withhold services under Aarogyasri, EHS, and JHS, potentially disrupting healthcare for thousands of beneficiaries.
