Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has approved the immediate release of Rs 5 billion to clean up pending dues from NTR Vaidya Seva Network Hospitals.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has approved the immediate release of Rs 5 billion to clean up pending dues from NTR Vaidya Seva Network Hospitals.
After an emergency meeting with the Executive Body of the Andhra Pradesh Health Care Providers Association, the chief minister has explained the challenging financial situation of the state to members of the association.
“However, understanding the key role played by hospitals and health care providers, he approved the immediate issuance of Rs 5 billion to clear dues,” the association’s official update read.
According to the press release, the Chief Minister assured them that the government believes that the removal of the remaining dues is a top priority. He also assured the association that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled soon to discuss pending payments and other issues.
After interacting with the Special Secretary of Health Krishna Babu, he promised the association that efforts would continue to ensure that the remaining funds were released. Meetings with Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav are also expected to include their concerns including pending dues, future payment schedules, packaging revisions, enhanced features and other operational issues.
The release of the Association President K. Vijay Kumar wrote: “Because the huge outstanding dues are not entirely satisfactory, respecting the guarantees of the Chief Minister and recognizing the financial constraints of the country, the ASHA implementing body has decided to resume cashless services at NTR Vaidya Seva starting from April 8.”
Dr. Vijay Kumar called on all members (Empaneled) hospitals to resume services, adding that the association will continue to work to ensure timely payments.
Earlier, all cashless health services, including emergency services, were provided to public hospitals under the leadership of Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva in Andhra Pradesh, as the hospital reportedly did not receive any guarantees regarding membership dues from the state government, reportedly around Rs 32.2 crore.
Last year, when the state’s TDP-led NDA government was formed, the previous government left Rs 22 billion in dues. The total membership fee now reaches Rs 35 billion. According to the AP Professional Hospital Association, last week, the government released Rs 3 billion.
Members of the association wrote a letter to the government in the first week of March, pointing out that they decided to stop services from April 7 and requested immediate clearance of dues. They wrote that monthly operating expenses were not paid. “Although we have done our best to continue serving the BPL population and support the state’s health care program, financial pressure has prevented us from achieving it,” the letter reads.
publishing – April 8, 2025 03:44 AM IST
