Private Hospitals Contemplate Treatment Halt for Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) Patients

Kochi: Private hospitals in Kerala are gearing up to cease the treatment of patients covered under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) from next month. The decision comes in response to accumulating arrears owed by the state government and its reluctance to implement the Health Benefit Package (HBP) Version 2.2.
The mounting arrears owed by the state government have strained the financial capabilities of private hospitals, prompting this drastic measure. The hospitals claim that despite repeated pleas and negotiations, the government has failed to address the long-pending arrears, which now threaten the continuous provision of healthcare services to KASP beneficiaries.
Dr. E K Ramachandran, Chairman of TM Hospital in Chettuva, highlighted the precarious situation faced by hospitals in rural areas, particularly those unable to turn away critically-ill patients or those requiring essential procedures such as dialysis. TM Hospital, situated in the coastal and rural region of Thrissur, disclosed a burden of pending arrears amounting to Rs 45 lakh, underlining the financial strain faced by healthcare providers in these areas. Dr. Ramachandran emphasized the critical need for a sustainable financial model to ensure the continued provision of quality healthcare services.
“Presently, 50 hospitals have stopped admitting patients covered under the scheme. We will be compelled to cease cooperation with the government unless there is an enhancement to the scheme and the pending amount is cleared in a timely manner,” he said.
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