Published Feb 20, 2026 | 8:53 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 20, 2026 | 8:53 AM
R Ashoka. (X)
Synopsis: The Karnataka BJP alleged that the state’s public healthcare is headed for a crunch, claiming the Congress-led government has not cleared ₹143.78 crore dues owed to CT and MRI service providers. The National Health Mission pushed back against the allegations and placed the onus on the private partner.
The Karnataka BJP on Thursday, 19 February, alleged that the state’s public healthcare is headed for a crunch, claiming the Congress-led government has not cleared ₹143.78 crore dues owed to CT and MRI service providers for the past three years. Raising the allegation, the saffron party leaders are demanding the resignation of Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka said the issue of unpaid bills surfaced after reports of medicine shortages in government hospitals and called it “financial paralysis in the Health Department.”
“This is not a minor administrative lapse,” he said. He warned that if CT and MRI services are disrupted, the poor and middle-class patients, especially accident victims, cancer patients, stroke cases, and pregnant women requiring urgent scans, will suffer.”
Ashoka questioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on why the payments have not been released and why contractual obligations were allegedly ignored for three years.
“If the Health Minister cannot ensure timely payments for essential services, he has no moral authority to continue in office,” he said, demanding that the chief minister sack Dinesh Gundu Rao.
The BJP leader also cited a submission by the service provider to the government, which said non-payment had pushed the company to the edge.
“Due to the non-release of our rightful dues, the situation has reached a point where the company’s financial capacity to continue operations has been entirely exhausted,” the company said, seeking an interim payment of ₹50 crore “to stabilise our operations.”
However, the National Health Mission (NHM), Karnataka State Health & Family Welfare Society, issued a rejoinder the same day, pushing back against the allegations and placing the onus on the private partner.
The rejoinder said Krsnaa Diagnostics Ltd has been under contract with the Government of Karnataka since 2017 to provide CT scans in 13 district hospitals and MRI scans in five district hospitals under a PPP model.
It said, “From 18/02/2026 M/s Krsnaa Diagnostics Ltd has abruptly stopped the CT and MRI diagnostic services.” The NHM said the company’s non-payment claims are contested: “M/s Krsnaa Diagnostics Ltd has made claims regarding non-payment of dues that are disputed since 2019 to the tune of Rs. 143 crores. However, the amount claimed has not been admitted by the department, hence it’s not payable.”
On continuity of services, the rejoinder said the government has mapped district hospitals to the nearest government or private medical colleges, private hospitals and institutions empanelled under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST).
“As per existing norms, the services are provided free for BPL patients and 30 percent subsidised for APL patients in the identified institutions,” it added. The NHM said scanning services have resumed in some locations and “will be completely operational in all districts within two to three days.”
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
