Telangana Aarogyasri Hospitals urge CM Revanth to clear pending dues

Hyderabad: In a plea to chief minister A Revanth Reddy, the Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association (TANHA) highlighted the dire financial situation faced by network hospitals due to delay in payments from the Aarogyasri Health Care Trust (AHCT).

The delay in payments has left hospitals struggling to meet their operational costs, including staff salaries and payments to suppliers, the plea said.

“All the network hospitals are facing a huge financial crisis because of many much-delayed payments from the AHCT. The hospitals are unable to even pay its staff salaries and payments to vendors/suppliers for the past 5 to 6 months,” TANHA stated.

What is Aarogyasri?

Established in 2007, the Aarogyasri scheme has been a cornerstone of healthcare accessibility in Telangana, providing vital medical services to the underprivileged sections of society. However, the strain on network hospitals has intensified over the years due to low package rates and delayed payments, pushing many hospitals to the brink of closure.

Demands include pending dues, salary hike

TANHA outlined key issues faced by network hospitals and presented a series of demands for immediate action:

Clearance of Pending Dues: TANHA urged for the prompt release of pending payments, which are currently delayed by nearly a year, to alleviate the financial burden on hospitals.

Hike in Package Rates: The association called for a revision of treatment rates to reflect the increasing costs of medical materials, medicines, and personnel, ensuring the sustainability of hospitals under the Aarogyasri scheme.

Regularisation of Payments (Green Channel): TANHA advocated for the implementation of a Green Channel mechanism to facilitate timely payments within 2-4 weeks of patient discharge, enabling hospitals to maintain service quality and meet financial obligations.

Addressing Cancellations/Rejections/Disallowances: The association raised concerns over cases being cancelled or rejected without valid reasons, emphasising the need for transparency and adherence to agreed-upon package terms.

Redrafting of MOU: TANHA emphasised the need for modernising the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between network hospitals and AHCT to address emerging challenges and streamline operations for the benefit of both beneficiaries and hospitals.

As TANHA seeks urgent intervention to address the financial crisis gripping Aarogyasri network hospitals, stakeholders await a response from the government to ensure the continued delivery of essential healthcare services to the most vulnerable sections of society.