ASHA asks government to clear pending bills to protect hospital sector

President of Andhra Pradesh Specialty Hospitals Association (ASHA) K. Vijay Kumar on Saturday (September 20) asked the government to take steps for clearance of ₹2000 crore worth pending bills of NTR Vaidya Seva to protect the healthcare sector in the State.

He said that many small and medium hospitals were facing acute financial crisis with the inordinate delay in clearance of the bills. Dr. Vijaya Kumar who interacted with managements of several hospitals of North Andhra region spoke to The Hindu on the reasons for the stopping of treatment for outpatients under the scheme.

“The dues which were not cleared for the last 18 months were a big jolt for the hospitals in the State. Managements of over 600 hospitals are not in a position to pay salaries to doctors and medical staff. Quality healthcare will be missed in hospitals when they won’t continue maintenance of the hospitals in accordance with the national standards. The government should look into the issue and clear all dues with a time-bound road map,” said Dr. Vijaya Kumar.

According to him, the government has not revised fee structures for various treatment procedures for the last seven years. The procedures’ number has gone up to 3200 from 800 in the last few years. Around 1.65 crore people were covered under NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. The hospitals located in rural and semi urban areas are unable to invest more funds for improvement of facilities in the absence of payments from the government. “The government should hold a meeting with stakeholders immediately to resolve the grievances of the hospitals. It will benefit lakhs of patients and enable the hospital managements to pay salaries promptly to doctors and other staff,” said Dr. Vijaya Kumar.