Hyderabad: Telangana Small Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association want dues, which they say amount to Rs 100 crore, under the Aarogyasri scheme to be cleared by the government immediately. In an open letter by the Indian Medical Association to state health minister Dr C, Laxma Reddy, the association said they were facing difficulty in continuing with the scheme. Small hospitals took 30 cases under Aarogyasri which they have reduced 10 or 15 because the burden is too high, said a senior doctor. “Money has to be pumped in by the hospital as the reimbursement from the government is taking too long,” he said.
Certain gastroenterology, pancreatic, vascular and other surgeries, where re-imbursements range from Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000 per procedure, were being done on selective basis, he said. Dr Narayana Rao of association said, “It is becoming difficult for the hospitals to survive. If the arrears are not paid within the time-limit of three to four months, it starts affecting the hospital’s finances.” Some private hospitals on the city outskirts have started referring patients to government hospitals for these treatments. A senior doctor said, “If the patient still insists on being treated at the private hospital, they are being charged rather than being treated under Aarogyasri.”
The luxury tax on small hospitals is becoming a contentious issue. About 20 of them in Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts have been served notices and asked to pay up. Dr Narayana Rao explained, “The hospitals have told the officials of the commercial taxes department that there is a stay order from the High Court. The order has been extended and till that is resolved, they can’t demand the tax.”
