Arogyasri scheme: Private hospitals deny treatment to poor patients

Hyderabad: Poor non-COVID patients have been left to fend for themselves as most of the private hospitals are refusing to admit them under the Arogyasri scheme.

Under the flagship scheme, Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients are entitled to free treatment for different ailments in all government and private hospitals across the state.

The ailments covered under the scheme include Heart, Lung, Liver, Pancreas, Kidney, Neuro-Surgery, Pediatric Congenital Malformations, Burns, Post -Burn Contracture Surgeries for Functional Improvement, Prostheses (Artificial limbs), Cancer (Surgery, Chemo Therapy, Radio Therapy ), Polytrauma (including cases covered under the MV Act) and Cochlear Implant Surgery with Auditory-Verbal Therapy for Children below 2 years.

However, most of the private hospitals are refusing admission to poor patients under the Arogyasri scheme.

NewsMeter contacted seven private hospitals including Yashodha, Somajiguda, Allwin, Matrica, Medicover, and Care to find out whether they are admitting poor patients under the Arogyasri scheme. Except for Apollo Hospital, all others denied treatment under Arogyashri to the poor patients.

“Private hospitals cannot deny treatment to any patient under Arogyasri. Private hospitals usually consider people with chest pain and breathing problems as COVID suspects. That might be the reason for denying admission to patients”, said Dr. Anil Kumar, state coordinator, Arogyasri Scheme.

It is pertinent to mention that private hospitals are refusing patients with Arogyasri cards because pending bills of around Rs 500 crore has not been cleared by the Telangana government. Besides COVID fear, the pending bills is a primary reason for hospitals turning down patients.