RGHS chemists protest 6-month payment delays, demand bill clearance

Jaipur: Chemists empanelled under the Rajasthan Govt Health Scheme (RGHS) protested at the health directorate on Monday, demanding clearance of bills pending for more than six months and objecting to deductions and cancellations made through the TPA system.

Protesters said delayed payments of six to 10 months continued for the past three years, badly affecting the finances of drug vendors linked to the scheme. They alleged that many bill cuts stem from doctors’ prescription errors, even though chemists are being penalised for them.The agitating chemists said they will not boycott RGHS or stop supplying medicines to beneficiaries. However, they have decided to limit medicine dispensing to a maximum of five days instead of the earlier 30 days. Ramesh Yadav, one of the protesters, said the govt has been deducting premiums from beneficiaries’ salaries under RGHS but has failed to clear vendors’ dues.

He said the financial crisis forced chemists to reduce the medicine supply period.Chemists gathered at the health directorate carrying placards demanding immediate payment of pending bills. Despite the protest, the chemists praised RGHS, saying the scheme has been a major benefit for state employees, pensioners and their families. They said the scheme itself is effective, but persistent payment delays have pushed vendors into severe financial distress.They also said the department’s current system of bill deductions and cancellations through TPA has worsened their problems, as vendors are being made to bear losses for mistakes in prescriptions written by doctors.