State government sticks to decision on Arogyasri

CM HOLDS MEETHYDERABAD:  Notwithstanding the threat of private hospitals not to treat patients under the Aarogyasri scheme in 10 districts of the State, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has decided to go ahead with an earlier decision to make 133 of 938 procedures of treatment under the scheme exclusive to government hospitals. He authorised district collectors to take spot decisions including hiring private doctors and purchasing equipment for effective implementation of the scheme.At a meeting held in his chambers at the Secretariat late on Wednesday night, the chief minister asked health officials to relax certain rules for strengthening and improving facilities at government hospitals. As the collector is the chairman of the government hospital development committees in districts, it was advised to delegate more powers to the collectors in this regard. He wanted them to prepare action plans and hold daily review meetings for effective implementation of Aarogyasri. Kiran Kumar Reddy asked the officials to relax norms for using about Rs 40 crore earmarked for development of government hospitals under the Aarogyasri scheme and buy the needed equipment.It may be recalled that the government has recently reserved 133 procedures of treatment exclusive to government hospitals in 10 districts including Hyderabad. Protesting against the move, private hospitals and nursing homes in these districts are completely boycotting Aarogyasri services in their hospitals from Wednesday. According to sources, health minister DL Ravindra Reddy batted for  private hospitals and sought reconsideration of the government's decision but in vain.According to officials, about 35 per cent of the funds provided for each treatment is allocated towards remunerations for doctors and staff who perform the treatment under the scheme, while the remaining 65 per cent is allotted for hospital development. The chief minister has asked health officials to motivate doctors and staff to avail the additional incentives for treating maximum number of patients in government hospitals. He wanted them to hire private doctors using the funds allocated towards incentives for doctors and staff in case of requirement.