TANHA hospitals halt services under Arogyasri, EHS, and JHS over long-pending dues

Hyderabad: The Telangana Network Hospitals Association (TANHA) has announced the withholding of services under Aarogyasri, EHS, and JHS schemes, citing long-pending grievances with the government. Emergency services will, however, remain operational in a few hospitals.

Dr. Vaddiraju Rakesh, State President of TANHA, said, “Despite repeated requests, our concerns have not been addressed. Until these issues are resolved, we are forced to withhold services for these schemes.”

Pending Dues and Key Demands

TANHA highlighted that hospitals under its network are owed ₹1,100–₹1,200 crore in dues, some pending for 18 months. “Aarogyasri hospitals in districts are doing most of the work, with an annual requirement of ₹1,200–₹1,300 crore. Yet, our dues remain unpaid, and package approvals are reduced by 25–30%,” said Dr. Rakesh.

The association listed its primary demands as follows:

1. Redrafting of the MoU to ensure a fair agreement.

2. Scientific revision of packages for Aarogyasri, EHS, and JHS without bias.

3. Clearing pending dues to restore financial stability to hospitals.

4. Resolving unilateral package cancellations and deductions.

5. Setting up a redressal mechanism for hospitals’ grievances.

Token Release of ₹100 Crore Insufficient

During a meeting with CEO Shiva Shankar, the government agreed to release ₹100 crore. However, TANHA criticized this as a routine response to their notices that fails to address the larger financial crisis.

“Whenever we issue a notice, ₹100 crore is released as a token amount. This is a band-aid solution and does not address the systemic issues we face,” said Dr. Rakesh.

Impact on Small and Mid-Sized Hospitals

The association emphasized the struggles faced by smaller hospitals due to the ongoing delays and policy challenges. “Small and mid-segment hospitals in districts are under severe financial strain. Aarogyasri and related schemes were launched with high hopes, but they are now being neglected,” Dr. Rakesh added.

Call for Government Action

TANHA appealed to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Health Minister’s Office (HMO), and other officials to resolve their concerns.

“We request the authorities, including CEO Shiva Shankar, to protect hospitals under our association and provide a clear path forward. Without concrete action, these problems will only worsen,” Dr. Rakesh said.

The association reiterated that services would remain withheld until their demands are met and a sustainable resolution is reached.