Cashless healthcare services for poor patients to be suspended amid payment crisis
Private hospitals across Andhra Pradesh have announced a major decision to suspend free healthcare services provided under the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Trust scheme, citing pending dues of nearly ₹3,000 crore from the state government.
The move, led by the Andhra Pradesh Speciality Hospitals Association (ASHA), is expected to come into effect from Wednesday, raising serious concerns about healthcare access for economically weaker sections.
Hospitals say unpaid dues make services financially unviable
According to ASHA, the payments for cashless treatments under the scheme have been pending for months despite repeated assurances from the government. The association stated that the dues were expected to be cleared by December 2025, but no payments have been released so far.
Hospital representatives claim that the arrears have continued to grow over the past three months, making it increasingly difficult for private healthcare providers to sustain operations while offering free services.
Ongoing protests intensify pressure on government
The announcement comes amid an ongoing protest by private hospitals in the state. Earlier, ASHA had organized demonstrations, including a protest at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada, demanding the release of ₹2,700 crore in pending dues.
The strike, which has already stretched over several days, reflects growing frustration among private healthcare providers over delayed reimbursements.
Concerns raised over proposed Universal Health Scheme
ASHA has also questioned the state government’s plan to introduce a Universal Health Scheme (UHS) without clearing existing dues under the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme.
The association highlighted that:
- Package rates under UHS are yet to be finalised
- There has been no consultation with private hospitals
- Continuing with outdated 2017 rates would be impractical in current conditions
Hospitals argue that launching a new scheme without addressing financial backlogs could worsen the situation.
Impact on patients and healthcare access
The suspension of services is likely to directly affect thousands of poor patients who depend on the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme for critical and life-saving treatments.
ASHA has appealed to the public to support their protest, emphasizing that the decision was taken as a last resort due to financial constraints.
Government may initiate talks to resolve crisis
Reports suggest that the Andhra Pradesh government may soon initiate discussions with hospital representatives to resolve the issue and restore services.
However, until a concrete solution is reached, uncertainty looms over the future of free healthcare services under the scheme, putting vulnerable patients at risk.
