Private hospitals call off strike

Private hospitals in Hyderabad and elsewhere in the State under the umbrella of Telangana Network Hospitals Association (TNHA), which had blocked healthcare services to patients covered under various government health insurance schemes, have called off their strike on Tuesday.

The members of TNHA met Health Minister Etela Rajender on Tuesday evening and held a detailed discussion over several issues. The Health Minister assured TNHA to resolve all their outstanding issues and urged them to resume normal healthcare services.

On its part, the State government has also released nearly Rs. 200 crore towards clearing pending medical bills to the network hospitals that fall under TNHA. The TNHA members also highlighted the need to have a green channel to ensure



timely release of pending medical bills in the near future.

In the meeting with the Health Minister, the members of TNHA pointed out that there was a need to redraft the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between Aarogyasri Health Care Trust and network hospitals.

“Almost all the clauses in the MoU are one-sided and very tough for our network hospitals to implement. We are grateful that the State government has been positive and receptive about addressing our issues,” TNHA members said.

The health authorities have also agreed to look into the demand of TNHA to revise the present tariffs, which were last revised about eight years ago, of various health insurance schemes.