Thiruvananthapuram: The burden of debt is escalating across all sectors, with hospitals now facing substantial liabilities under government-funded treatment schemes. The government owing over Rs 1,128 crores solely under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Scheme.
The Karunya scheme, originally sustained by revenues from the Karunya Lottery, now finds itself burdened with arrears amounting to Rs 189 crores. According to estimates from the health department, private hospitals are owed Rs 269,07,97,307, while government hospitals await payments totaling Rs 859,61,18,856 under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Scheme, which also relies on central allocations. Moreover, pending bills yet to be approved signal an impending debt surge exceeding Rs 400 crores. Notably, 42 lakh families are covered under this scheme, underscoring the scale of the issue.
Private hospital representatives have expressed frustration over the lack of clarity from the government regarding payment settlements. Despite discussions with the Principal Secretary of the Health Department, an agreement remains elusive. Consequently, the hospital association is gearing up to petition the High Court on Monday for urgent intervention.
The Karunya Arogya Suraksha Scheme, aimed at providing medical benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum through designated hospitals, faces significant financial strain amid mounting debts and uncertainties over payment settlements.
Comments