Aarogyasri talks fail; private hospitals not to treat patients

Hyderabad: Talks between the Government and Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals' Association (TANHA) failed to resolve the issue and the healthcare services under Aarogyasri scheme have decided to continue with their decision of not treating the patients under this scheme.

The private and corporate hospitals had stopped extending medical services from Friday morning demanding that pending bills be cleared and government accept their long-pending demands.

State Health Minister E Rajendar and the officials of the Aarogyasri Health Care Trust (AHCT) held day-long deliberations with the representatives of Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals' Association (TANHA) and requested them to call off the agitation in view of difficulties being faced by the poor patients in the hospitals.

The government owes them about Rs 1,200 crore. During the meeting the association demanded that all dues be cleared and that the minister should give assurance that the tariff would be revised.

The association representatives said that since 2007 the rates have not been revised. They were demanding that the rates be doubled in view of increased maintenance of the hospitals and the treatment cost. The managements said they were not ready to call off the stir until their demands are accepted by the government.

Speaking to newsmen, Rajendar disputed with the association claim that the government owed Rs 1,200 crore to the hospitals. The total dues pending before the government is Rs 600 crore only.

The minister clarified that the government is taking measures to clear the dues in a phased manner. He appealed to the association to resume healthcare services to the poor.

The second round of talks between the government and the association is likely to be held on Saturday as the health minister submitted a report to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on the status of the pending dues and the impact of the suspension of services by the network hospitals.