Pvt Hospitals Resume Services Under NTR Vaidya

Vijayawada: Private hospitals under Association of Healthcare Providers of Andhra Pradesh resumed healthcare services under NTR Vaidya Seva in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, following Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's directive to immediately pay Rs 500 crore towards dues.

Following a notice from private hospitals to the state government on pending funds of upto Rs 3,500 crore, private hospitals had stopped services under NTR Vaidya and the Employees Health Scheme on April 7.

CM Naidu called for an emergency meeting with the executive body of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) on late Monday night and explained to the doctors about the difficulties the state government was facing in managing the available resources.

However, understanding the crucial role played by the hospitals and healthcare providers, the CM gave his approval for release of Rs 500 crore immediately and assured to clear the remaining dues on top priority.

The CM also assured to arrange a meeting with the ASHA executive body to discuss other concerns in detail.

Health special chief secretary M.T. Krishna Babu interacted with the ASHA executive body and vowed efforts to secure the release of remaining funds. He said a meeting will be arranged with health minister Satya Kumar Yadav on April 10 to discuss future payment scheduling, package revision, wage enhancement and other issues.

Accordingly, the ASHA executive body decided to resume cashless services under NTR Vaidya Seva across all the hospitals in the state from Tuesday.