Karunya scheme: state govt yet to pay dues of Rs 395 crore to govt and private hospitals

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has to pay dues of Rs 395 crore to government and private hospitals for providing free treatment to the poor under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP). Rs 110 crore for private hospitals (three months) and around Rs 285 crore for government hospitals (two and a half years). Rs 200 crore was sanctioned two weeks ago but it was not enough. The State Health Agency (SHA), which is in-charge of implementing the scheme, has given between Rs 2 to 10 crore to the hospitals. The government's assurance of payment within 15 days of registering a claim has not been fulfilled.

Kottayam Medical College Rs 78 crore, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Rs 87 crore and Kozhikode Medical College Rs 70 crore are the government hospitals with the highest due amount.

The government also has dues of Rs 50 crore in RCC and Malabar Cancer centre which have to pay salaries on their own. These institutes ensure free treatment by using money from other expenses. If the arrears increase, the institutions will be in crisis.

Karunya scheme

Government hospitals - 195

Private hospitals - 542

Beneficiaries - 14,36,932

Applications received - 35,71,953

Claims - 3,51,859

Arrears

Govt hospitals - 285 crore

Private hospitals - 110 crore

“The assurance that the money would be paid within 15 days is not fulfilled. We have approached the government for speedy payment of dues.”, said Dr Hussain Koya Thangal, President, Kerala private hospitals association.