The Arogyasri Trust has turned down the proposal of AP Specialty Hospital Association’s (ASHA) request for part payment from patients for certain healthcare procedures under Argoyasri programme, citing possible misuse and dilution of the very purpose of cashless service.

As reported earlier, the Andhra Pradesh Nursing Homes and Associations (APNA) and ASHA stakeholders met the officials of Arogyasri trust and had asked the government for a 50 per cent overall increase in Arogyasri package rates and also add some more hospitals under the ambit of Arogyasri programme. The members had also put a proposal before the government to introduce dual payment procedures (Patients volunteering to pay a part of the treatment expenses from their pocket for better service), for certain healthcare services.  

While accepting their proposal for a reasonable hike in healthcare packages, the government has turned down any dual payment procedures as it would dilute the very purpose of cashless treatment.

The Arogyasri Trust had assured the associate members a reasonable hike in rates, but before taking any decision on the increase of package rates the trust officials are expected to conduct consultation with professors of government and corporate hospitals.

The APNA and ASHA members had insisted the government to add more hospitals to the ambit of Arogyasri programme and extend the scheme to all people from 1st of November. Earlier Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy had also proposed to extend the healthcare scheme. Taking this into consideration, the trust officials are planning to do consultations with professors and experts in this regard.  Once the government concludes the consultations, the hike in healthcare package rates are expected to take effect as early as October 2012.

“Though the stakeholders wanted a 50 per cent blanket hike in package rates, the trust would decide on the rate depending on the procedures and specialties after discussion with government and corporate doctors and it would be effective from October,” said, Dr. R.S. Saluja, APNA president.

“There are certain procedures especially in orthopaedics, nephrology, oncology etc, which need a considerable hike in rate as parts replacement in orthopaedics and other new advanced technology, are quite expensive,” Dr Saluja said.