Empanelled hospitals threaten to stop treatment under Aarogyasri

Hyderabad: Empanelled private hospitals have threatened to discontinue treatment of patients under Aarogyasri schemes from August 16 if the government fails to clear the dues.

The private hospital representatives claimed that the dues to be paid to them are nearly Rs 1,400.

The Private Network Hospitals Association held a general body meeting here on Sunday to discuss the future course of action. Representatives from 150 hospitals attended the meeting.

Giving details of the meeting, the association president, Dr Rakesh, said the private hospitals were finding it difficult to manage as the government failed to release funds to clear dues.

Earlier it was decided to go on a strike from August 1, but refrain from going ahead as the Health Minister assured them that steps would be taken to release the amount.

The association members said they would wait for 15 more days and if government failed to come to their rescue, they would have no options but to stop treatment of patients under Aarogyasri.

It may be noted that State government's Aarogyasri Scheme, a unique Community Health Insurance Scheme, provides financial protection to BPL families up to Rs. 2 lakhs in a year for the treatment of serious ailments requiring hospitalisation and surgery.

The scheme provides coverage for the systems like Heart, Lung, Liver, Pancreas, Kidney, Neuro-Surgery, Paediatric Congenital Malformations, Burns, Post -Burn Contracture Surgeries for Functional Improvement, Prostheses (Artificial limbs), Cancer treatment (Surgery, Chemo Therapy, Radio Therapy ), Polytrauma ( including cases covered under MV Act) and Cochlear Implant Surgery with Auditory-Verbal Therapy for Children below 2 years. All the pre-existing cases of the above-mentioned diseases are covered under the scheme.