Aarogyasri health services in shambles in Telangana

Healthcare services under Aarogyasri Health Insurance, the Employee Health Scheme (EHS), and the Journalists Health Scheme (JHS) remain suspended in small and medium-sized hospitals.

Hyderabad: Aarogyasri health services across Telangana State in private hospitals are in shambles, as patients for the past 10-days suffer due to non-availability of quality health care.

With the State government failing to meet any of their demands, private hospitals under Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association (TANHA), have continued to suspend medical services since January 10.

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As a result, all the health care services for the general public under Aarogyasri Health Insurance, government employees under Employee Health Scheme (EHS) and Journalists Health Scheme (JHS) have continued to remain suspended in small and medium-sized hospitals.

On Sunday, senior office bearers of (TANHA) in Hyderabad once again reiterated their demand that the State government must immediately release pending medical bills amounting to Rs 1200 crore.

“Our doctors are not willing to work because hospitals are unable to pay their consultation amounts and salaries. Suppliers are about to stop their supplies because hospitals are unable to pay their amount for the last six months. In this regard, we have given representation to Aarogyasri CEO and Health Minister also. But no action till now,” said president, TANHA, Dr V Rakesh.

Over 360 members of TANHA, consisting of hospitals with 100 to 400 beds, have been participating in the Aarogyasri health strike since January 10. The average monthly medical bills for Arogyasri, EHS and JHS patients from all TANHA hospitals in Telangana is close to Rs 100 crore, which works out to Rs 1200 to Rs 1300 crore annually. The State government’s inability to clear the pending medical bills has forced the members of TANHA to withdraw Arogyasri, EHS and JHS services.

A token amount of Rs 100 crore, which covers for just one month of the pending medical bills for members of TANHA, was offered by the State government through Arogyasri on Thursday.

However, it was rejected by members of TANHA. “Whenever there is inordinate delay in release of medical bills, it has become a habit to release a token amount of Rs 100 crore and expect the private hospitals to fall in line. However, this is not reassuring for us. The State government must look to resolve the issue of frequent delays in payment of medical bills permanently,” the members of TANHA said.

The health care facilities under Arogyasri, however, have continued uninterrupted in specialty hospitals in Hyderabad.