Published Apr 01, 2026 | 12:56 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 01, 2026 | 12:56 PM
Hospital beds. (iStock)
Synopsis: Health services under the NTR Vaidya Seva have been suspended across Andhra Pradesh, after private network hospitals cited mounting unpaid dues and financial distress. Andhra Pradesh Speciality Hospital Association urged the state government to treat the issue with urgency and take immediate steps to resolve the crisis.
Health services under the NTR Vaidya Seva have been suspended across Andhra Pradesh from Wednesday, 1 April, with private network hospitals citing mounting unpaid dues and financial distress.
The NTR Vaidya Seva scheme provides cashless treatment to economically weaker sections, and the suspension of services is expected to severely impact access to healthcare for thousands of patients across Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh Speciality Hospital Association (ASHA) urged the state government to treat the issue with urgency and take immediate steps to resolve the crisis.
In a statement, ASHA President Dr K Vijay Kumar said arrears owed to hospitals had ballooned to nearly ₹3,000 crore. Although the government had earlier assured that the dues would be cleared by December 2025, the promise remained unfulfilled, he said. Over the past three months, pending payments continued to accumulate, making it increasingly difficult for hospitals to sustain operations.
The association also faulted the government for announcing a universal health scheme without first clearing outstanding dues under NTR Vaidya Seva. It pointed out that package rates under the proposed scheme had not been finalised and warned that hospitals would not accept outdated pricing structures from 2017.
ASHA further expressed dissatisfaction over the government going back on its promise of a one-time settlement and not involving stakeholders in drafting the universal health programme.
“With no viable alternative, network hospitals under NTR Vaidya Seva have been forced to go on strike,” he said, adding that the very survival of hospitals had come under strain.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
