BENGALURU: As many as 148 private tertiary care hospitals across the state refused to relent even as the Health Minister assured them of payment of `60 crore in 15 days against dues under various government medical insurance schemes.
The Federation of Healthcare Associations said unless the government sets up committees as it promised in Monday’s meeting to revise the costs of various procedures along with payment of dues, patients, except children and accident victims, will continue to be denied treatment.
Federation of Healthcare Associations secretary Dr V C Shanmuganandan told Express, “The cash-less treatment being given to patients under various schemes has been discontinued and it will continue to be withheld.
“Patients will not be entertained till the issues are resolved completely. The government has said various committees will be set up. We will review the situation as and when the committees are in place.”
Asked how long a truce is likely to take he said, “That depends on how quick the government acts. The committees will take care of immediate payment of dues and will review the cost of procedures.”
The meeting with the Health Minister was attended by Dr Madan S Gaekwad, senior executive vice-president of Sagar Hospitals, and president, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), which is part of FHA; and Dr Chandrashekar G R, Chairman, Cauvery Hospital, Mysuru.
Dr Devi Shetty, head of Narayan Hrudayalaya, Dr Nagendra Swamy, group Medical Director of Manipal Hospitals, and Dr Ajai Kumar, Chairman and CEO, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, are said to be the major players in the decision-making, who were reportedly absent from the meeting.
According to the records of Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust’s (SAST) , all these hospitals have significant dues under Vajpayee Arogyashree meant for BPL cardholders.