Telangana: Health ministry failing to keep its promise; Aarogyasri services stopped

Hyderabad: With the health ministry failing to keep its promise of releasing Rs 300 crore to the Telangana Small Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association — for Aarogyasri patients — the services have now been stopped from October 1.

Dr Suresh Goud, member of THANA said: “Two months ago, health minister
Dr Laxma Reddy had promised the release of Rs 300 crore but so far, we have not received anything. It is becoming very difficult for private hospitals to survive. The total pending amount now is Rs 400 crores. We can’t be part of the Aarogyasri scheme, in this manner.”

Members of THANA met with Dr Reddy and reiterated the same demand. A source said: “The hospital authorities were very upset over the fact that no cash had been released yet. The government said the process of releasing the money would take three months but the doctors were not willing to listen.”

Over 600 hospitals in the state have stopped the services and patients now face the prospect of approaching big corporate hospitals for their healthcare needs.