Free MRI, CT Scan Services Halted In 13 Karnataka District Hospitals Over Rs 143 Crore Dues

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 16:36 IST

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told CNN-News18 that the disputed bills date back to the previous BJP government.

Free MRI and CT scan services have been suspended in several government district hospitals across Karnataka, leaving hundreds of patients in distress after a dispute erupted over pending payments to a private diagnostics firm.

The disruption, which first surfaced at the Chitradurga District Hospital, has now spread to at least 13 districts, including Dharwad, severely impacting beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (ABRK) scheme and BPL card holders who rely on cashless diagnostic services.

Patients Turned Away

At Chitradurga District Hospital, several low-income patients who had travelled from rural areas for free MRI scans were turned away after being informed that the facility had shifted to a “pay-only" model.

The MRI and CT scan facilities at district hospitals are operated by M/s Krsnaa Diagnostics Ltd, a private agency contracted by the state government. The company halted free services alleging that the government failed to reimburse significant outstanding dues under the ABRK scheme.

The sudden suspension has left dozens of families in uncertainty, with many unable to afford expensive private diagnostic tests.

Govt Denies Pending Dues

However, the Health National Mission issued a clarification stating that there are no pending dues payable to the company.

“M/s Krsnaa Diagnostics Ltd has made claims regarding non-payment of dues that are disputed since 2019 to the tune of Rs 143 crores. However, the amount claimed has not been admitted by the department; hence it is not payable," the statement said.

The government further asserted that Karnataka has sufficient funds to provide CT and MRI services across the state and that necessary steps are being taken to ensure continuity of services, even in the absence of funds from the Centre.

It added that CT and MRI scanning services have already resumed in alternative institutions in some locations and will be fully operational across all districts within two to three days.

‘Disputed Bills From BJP’s Time’: Govt

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told CNN-News18 that the disputed bills date back to the previous BJP government.

“These bills are disputed from BJP’s time, not just now. We can’t give away public money just like that when we find discrepancies. We have put alternate measures and things will be normal in the next day or two. These measures will continue to be a permanent fixture even when the issue is resolved with this diagnostics firm. BJP should stop politicising. Even they disputed these bills and didn’t pay for three years when they were in power," he said.

The minister maintained that public funds cannot be released without scrutiny and assured that arrangements are being made to prevent inconvenience to patients.

BJP Hits Back

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging widespread mismanagement in the health sector.

“CT scans have not been paid Rs 120 crores. There are no CT scans available because the Congress government has not paid them. There are also no medicines, and they have not called for any tenders. Out of 800 medicines, only 170 are available. This government is corrupted. It is affecting all over Karnataka. There is no development. We are going down every day," he claimed.

The BJP has accused the government of pushing the healthcare system into crisis due to financial mismanagement.

Services To Resume Soon?

While the government has assured that alternative arrangements are in place and that full services will resume within days, the episode has sparked a political slugfest and raised concerns over the sustainability of public-private partnerships in critical healthcare services.

For now, patients in multiple districts remain caught in the crossfire of a high-stakes dispute over Rs 143 crore in contested dues, waiting for the promised restoration of free diagnostic services.

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