Harish Rao demands immediate release of Aarogyasri arrears, salaries for Basti Dawakhanas

Former Minister T Harish Rao slammed the Congress-led Telangana government over six months of unpaid salaries at Basti Dawakhanas and Rs 1,400 crore dues under Aarogyasri. He demanded immediate action to restore basic healthcare services, free medicines, and diagnostics

Hyderabad: Former Minister T Harish Rao criticised the Congress government over unpaid salaries to staff of Basti Dawakhanas, which were a model for doorstep medical services and urban public healthcare. He demanded that the government release pending salaries of doctors, nurses and other staff, apart from around Rs 1,400 crore dues to private hospitals under Aarogyasri.

During a visit to the Old Lingampalli Basti Dawakhana in Serlingampalli constituency, Harish Rao revealed that staff including doctors at the clinic did not receive salaries for six months, with nurses and support workers struggling to make ends meet. “The Revanth Reddy government claims salaries will be paid on the first of every month. But here, not even medicines are available. Only 60 out of 110 types are in stock, forcing patients purchase medicines outside,” he remarked.

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He said reagents for critical tests like B12 and D3 were unavailable, forcing patients to approach private diagnostic centres. “The Chief Minister does not even review whether staff are getting paid. In his own constituency, a life was lost because the 108 ambulance did not arrive on time,” he said.

The BRS leader reminded that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao launched 450 Basti Dawakhanas, including 350 in Hyderabad alone, to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for the poor. “Under the BRS rule, 110 medicines and 130 types of tests were offered free, with reports sent to patients’ mobile phones. Today, even basic services are unavailable,” he said.

He accused the government of prioritising liquor revenues over health, stating that Revanth Reddy was more focused on increasing liquor shop tenders than improving basic amenities in hospitals. Calling it shameful that even Employee and Journalist Health Schemes have collapsed, he demanded immediate release of pending salaries, restoration of 110 free medicines and 134 free tests, and filling of vacant posts.