Patients suffer as Aarogyasri services in private hospitals remain suspended in Telangana

Aarogyasri health services in Telangana remain suspended for a second day as private hospitals protest against unpaid dues amounting to Rs 1,500 crore. Despite appeals from Aarogyasri officials, the State government has yet to initiate dialogue with the TANHA, which is leading the strike.

Hyderabad: With the State government and health department failing to make any attempts to engage protesting private hospitals in talks, the Aarogyasri health insurance services for patients in Telangana have continued to get affected for the second consecutive day today.

Almost all small and medium sized private hospitals have completely withdrawn health care services for patients covered under Aarogyasri, government employees under Employee Health Scheme and Journalists covered under Journalists Health Scheme (JHS).

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Members of the Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association (TANHA), which is spearheading the protests, have continued to maintain that the Aarogyasri services will remain suspended until the State government releases the pending medical bills.

According to TANHA members, the total pending medical bills for private hospitals in Telangana currently range from Rs 1300 crore to Rs 1500 crore. So far, barring an appeal by senior Aarogyasri officials to call off the strike, the State government is yet to make a concerted effort to reach out to the protesting private hospitals and resolve the outstanding issues.