The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Referral status for 113 more hospitals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 27, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Referral status for 113 more hospitals

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 26. An additional 113 private hospitals across the State are proposed to be recognised as referral hospitals for treatment of Government employees, those who have retired and their dependents.

This follows the approval given by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to a revised set of guidelines for recognition of private hospitals.

The hospitals are now required to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government specifying the diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to be offered to five per cent of patients belonging to the below poverty line category. Secondly, they have to identify two villages for adoption clearly specifying how they will work to improve the health status of the local population.

The Chandrababu Naidu Government had started this scheme in January 1996 with a view to utilising the super speciality facilities in private hospitals for treatment of serving and retired employees on reference by doctors in Government hospitals.

Initially, 15 private hospitals were recognised. During the last nine years, their number has grown to 46, including 18 outside Andhra Pradesh. Eligible employees, after obtaining treatment, pay in advance and seek reimbursement from the Government.

Although considerable sums were being paid towards reimbursement (Rs. 12.33 crores in 2000-01), the hospitals were found to have contributed no service to the poor.

In 2002, the Government decided to impose on the private hospitals a set of conditions -- to adopt two PHCs, give free treatment to white cardholders to the extent of 5 per cent of their bed strength and to students of social and tribal welfare hostels and to charge 10 per cent less than the NIMS rates from the employees.

Under the new policy, recognition will be given only if they fulfil the norms and are willing to abide by the Government's existing as well as new guidelines.

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