Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112254610400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No treatment to CGHS beneficiaries from today

Special Correspondent

ASHA peeved over non-payment of bills

Dues to AP Speciality Hospitals Association stand at about Rs.25 crore
Centre released budget for payment of dues to hospitals: ASHA

HYDERABAD: Nineteen member hospitals of AP Speciality Hospitals Association (ASHA) which extend medical services to the beneficiaries of Central Government Health Scheme will not serve them from Saturday.

This decision, which will affect retired and serving Central Government employees covered under the CGHS, was taken by the association after serving a notice to the CGHS over non-payment of their bills for the services rendered to the beneficiaries during the last two years.

The dues stood at about Rs.25 crore, ASHA coordinator said in a release.

Despite several letters to the Additional Director, CGHS, Begumpet, Hyderabad, and taking the issue to the notice of Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and also to the Director General of Health Services, CGHS, New Delhi, and other officials concerned, amounts were not released, he said.

He alleged that though the Central Government released the budget for payment of dues to the hospitals, the AD, CGHS here, under the pretext of scrutinising the bills, had been withholding the amounts.

Suggestion rejected

Regretting the inconvenience to be caused to CGHS beneficiaries, ASHA coordinator said that the Additional Director, CGHS, did not even consider their suggestion to release at least 75 per cent of the amount immediately forcing them to take the decision of withdrawing services to the CGHS beneficiaries.