Minister for Health C. Damodar Raja Narasimha and Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu along with members of the Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association during a meeting on January 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association (TANHA) has ended its 10-day strike, which saw the suspension of Aarogyasri admissions in private hospitals across the State. The decision came after a meeting with Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha on Monday, where long standing grievances of the association were discussed, said Dr. Vaddiraju Rakesh, President of TANHA.
During the meeting, TANHA representatives urged the Minister to address issues such as revising the empanelment memorandum of understanding (MoU), updating package rates, and clearing substantial pending dues. The strike, which began on January 10, was driven by TANHA’s claim that the State owed ₹1,100 crore in Aarogyasri payments to private hospitals.
Responding to the concerns, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring healthcare for the underprivileged. “Education and healthcare for the poor remain our top priorities. Unlike the previous administration, which allocated an average of ₹500 crore annually to Aarogyasri, our government disbursed ₹1,137 crore in the past year alone,” he said.
The Minister assured that pending arrears would be cleared within the next six months, adding that the government would ensure regular and timely disbursal of funds moving forward. Addressing the issue of package rates, which were last revised in 2013, he noted that updates had already been made under the current government. To resolve objections raised by hospitals, the Minister proposed forming a committee and promised a positive resolution of the matter.
Additionally, a follow-up meeting involving the Health Secretary and the Aarogyasri CEO would be convened to address other outstanding issues raised by TANHA. The assurance provided by the Minister led the association to call off its strike and resume Aarogyasri services in private hospitals from Monday evening.
Published – January 21, 2025 06:38 am IST
