The Andhra Pradesh government has imposed fines totalling Rs 34.39 crore on 203 hospitals for violations under the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme between 2024-25 and 2026-27, with several facilities also suspended, delisted or stripped of recognition.
NTR Vaidya Seva Trust chief executive officer A. A. L. Padmavathi submitted a report on the action taken against the hospitals to health minister Satya Kumar Yadav in Vijayawada on Saturday. The report recorded enforcement measures taken against hospitals accused of irregularities while providing treatment under the state healthcare scheme.
According to the report, the Trust suspended 25 hospitals, stopped payments to 13 hospitals, delisted five hospitals and derecognised one hospital. These actions were taken in addition to the fines imposed on 203 hospitals.
The complaints examined by the Trust included allegations that hospitals collected money from patients despite the scheme providing coverage, denied cashless treatment to eligible beneficiaries, delayed treatment and failed to comply with healthcare norms. Complaints also cited alleged neglect of patients at participating hospitals.
The NTR Vaidya Seva Trust is examining the complaints and related details. The enforcement action places the functioning of empanelled private hospitals under closer scrutiny, particularly because beneficiaries rely on the scheme for cashless access to approved healthcare services.
Around 1,000 private hospitals are associated with the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust in Andhra Pradesh. The size of the network means that the Trust’s monitoring and enforcement systems have a direct bearing on how beneficiaries experience the scheme across the state.
Padmavathi said the Trust was using artificial intelligence to verify treatment records and bills submitted under the scheme. The system is being used to identify lapses in hospital claims and treatment records, after which action is taken against hospitals in accordance with the applicable norms.
The report submitted to the health minister did not specify the individual hospitals involved, the amount of each fine or the number of patients affected by the alleged violations. The Trust is continuing to examine the complaints and associated records before taking further action under the scheme’s norms.
