The AP State Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (APNA) believes that the problems of small nursing homes are increasing everyday. The harassment by various law enforcing agencies, political activists, ignorant patients is also increasing. The very existence of smaller nursing homes is becoming questionable and running a nursing home has become a painful job.
Keeping in view the key role played by the private sector in health care, the association has put forth some demands for support from the government.
The demands include providing free land and interest free loans, tax-holiday and subsidized power to young entrepreneur doctors in establishing hospitals in the rural and backward areas and urban slums.
To recognize hospitals as a service industry and provide concessions on power, water tariff, and municipal tax. Police is required to verify prima-facie of the incidence and should proceed to take action against erring doctors, once sufficient evidence has been established in the case.
In the case of biomedical waste management, hospitals have to bear huge costs for repeated registration and disposal, which increases the overall healthcare costs and so, it has requested the government to bear some of the expenditure. APNA establishment act, though passed in legislature three years ago, has not come into force yet. The government should enact it as soon as possible, as it would rescue poor people from the clutches of quacks and other elements.
APNA conducted the 11th state convention on 16 November at Hyderabad. About 800 delegates representing hospitals and nursing homes from all parts of the state participated. The convention mainly focused on the problems faced by the hospitals and nursing homes.
APNA established in the year 1983, consists of 2,322 members. According to APNA, the state has around 6000 private hospitals and nursing homes, and has more than 75,000 inpatient beds. The association is formed basically to help members solve their problems collectively.