Network hospitals discontinued services under the Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva scheme on October 10, protesting delay in payments from the government.
| Photo Credit: File photo
A day ahead of a massive protest called by representatives of A.P. Speciality Hospitals’ Association (ASHA), the State government on Wednesday (October 22) released ₹250 crore towards clearing the pending dues to network private hospitals.
According to an official release from the department, Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education Satya Kumar Yadav discussed the payment of funds with Minister for Finance Payyavula Kesav. The State government will also take steps to pay another ₹250 crore soon, said Principal Secretary Saurabh Gaur, while urging network hospital managements to resume services to people under Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva scheme.
It may be noted that the State government has to pay around ₹2,700 crore in dues to network hospitals to cover expenses incurred by the hospitals. Out of the total sum, ₹670 crore was uploaded on the government payment portal Comprehensive Financial Management System, but it was not released for a long time, forcing the representatives of the network hospitals to discontinue services under the scheme from October 10.
Out of the uploaded sum of around ₹670 crore, the government released funds to the tune of ₹250 crore on Wednesday. When asked if they would continue with the protest on October 23, ASHA vice president S.V.L. Narayana Rao responded in positive.
“The distribution of the sum has been asymmetric. Some network hospitals have received it and some have not. There is no change in our decision to stage a protest in Vijayawada on October 23,” Dr. Narayana Rao said.
Published – October 22, 2025 11:20 pm IST
