The Andhra Pradesh private hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (APNA) has demanded to the state and central governments to provide subsidy schemes and other incentives like tax benefits for the small and medium hospitals and nursing homes in the state.

The association said that such incentives would in turn reflect in lowering the healthcare costs borne by the patients. The association has also opposed constitution of a governing council to regulate and curtail the powers of Medical Council of India (MCI).

Hitting back at the central government’s action to abolish MCI and impose regulations on the elected body, the association opposed the newly constituted governing council represented by bureaucrats. They have even opposed the government’s action for bringing all medical services under the Consumer Protection Issues Act (CPI). The association feels that this Act may be misused and may be detrimental for the free and fair relations between the doctors and patients.

The association has expressed concern that the governing council might not be as effective as MCI and may not understand the ground realities as they do not have first hand experience with regard to problems of doctors in the country.

In addition to this, the association has demanded the state and central governments to provide incentives and subsidies for the welfare of small and medium hospitals and nursing homes in the state so that it would help them to reduce the healthcare service charges which are being imposed on the patients.

“During the past two decades, the healthcare costs have been sky rocketing. This is mainly because the state government is imposing various kinds of taxes like service tax, Vat, property tax, APPCB clearances and other stringent pollution control regulations. Therefore to reduce the healthcare costs, we demand the government to reduce the taxes and give us concessions to facilitate and improve the healthcare services at affordable costs to the patients,” said Dr Saluja, state president of APNA.

The association members have also asked the state and central government to shun the idea of introducing a new medical diploma course of three and half years for students who wish to serve in rural areas. “There is no dearth of MBBS doctors in the country, but the government is not providing sufficient salaries or stipend to the government doctors, because of this many doctors are not willing to work in rural areas. Instead of solving the problem, the government is indulging in bringing about ineffective medical courses which may be counterproductive in the long run,” said Dr Yadaiah, city president APNA.