Fresh talks failed, network hospitals not to resume Arogyasri services
Vijayawada: Fresh talks between the government and the Andhra Pradesh Specialty Hospital Association (ASHA) on Wednesday have failed. The association said it would continue stopping the Arogyasri and EHS services across the state.
Arogyasri CEO, Dr Lakshmi Sha, organised a Zoom meeting with the leaders of ASHA. He requested them to resume services and avoid inconvenience to the public.
Although a sum of `203 crore was released to the network hospitals on Wednesday, the CEO did not promise clearance of the entire arrears of nearly `1,500 crore.
The government attempted negotiations as Arogyasri CEO Lakshmi Sha conducted a virtual meeting with ASHA leaders, explaining the situation and assuring the release of `203 crore. However, the doctors explained their discomfort vis-a-vis the long-pending dues and demanded that at least `800 crore be released.
After discussions, the network hospitals informed the CEO that the released `203 crore would not meet payment of even one month's bills and would not help clear their pending hospital bills.
They demanded the immediate release of at least Rs 400 crore.
Dr C Avinash, secretary of ASHA, emphasized that they need to clear salaries of staff and doctors, bills of vendors, maintenance, and pay government taxes. He made it clear that they would continue their strike halting Arogyasri services.
Dr Lakshmi Sha said an amount of `203 crore has been released to Arogyasri Network Hospitals as per the assurance given to the network hospitals. The pending bills will be cleared at the earliest. He appealed to the management of ASHA to cooperate.
The CEO said that during the financial year 2024-25, a sum of 366 crore has been released to the network hospitals. In the financial year 2023-24, a sum of 3,566.22 crore has been transferred to the accounts of network hospitals.
He said that during the last five years, 42,91,254 patients benefited through Arogyasri and `13,470.89 crore cashless treatment has been provided to the needy across the state.
Dr Lakshmi Sha said that the officials are in constant touch with the network hospital management and assured that there shall not be any interruption to the Arogyasri services to the patients.
He warned that action will be taken against hospitals that deny services and the district collectors are instructed to ensure that there shall be uninterrupted Arogyasri services to the people.
Special chief secretary Krishna Babu has instructed officials to ensure that the people who visit CHC, AH, DH, GGH and Specialty hospitals do not face inconveniences.