Non-Governmental Hospital Association of Mizoram (NGHAM), on Friday, expressed their willingness to implement a health care scheme, officials sources said.
NGHAM is an umbrella body of all private and church-run hospitals in the state.
There were a misunderstanding and heated exchange between the state government and private hospitals after the state government suspended the empanelment of over 15 private and church-run hospitals.
The empanelment was suspended for allegedly refusing to implement the Mizoram State Health Car Scheme (MSHCS) in December last.
State health department officials said that NGHAM, after its meeting on Friday, informed health minister R Lalthangliana of its willingness to implement the healthcare scheme.
They said the decision of the association follows an appeal from the health minister.
Lalthangliana had earlier appealed to the association to implement the state healthcare scheme by following the government’s notified rate for the medical expense to be charged from patients.
Sources said that the meeting of NGHAM on Friday deliberated about the health’s minister appeal as a result of which a consensus decision was taken to implement the healthcare scheme.
The association also asked the health minister to lift the suspension of its 18 members (hospitals).
Meanwhile, Lalthangliana held an emergent meeting with health department officials to discuss the development.
He asked officials to take immediate action to withdraw the order, which suspended 18 private or church-run hospitals.
Lalthangliana also lauded private hospitals for accepting his request to implement the state healthcare scheme.
He also assured that the healthcare scheme would be reviewed on a specific occasion to suit the present situation.
On December 4 last year, the government had suspended the empanelment of most private hospitals for allegedly being reluctant to implement the healthcare scheme.
Opposition Congress had alleged that the government’s move had severely affected public as poor beneficiaries and government servants, who admitted in private hospital, could not claim reimbursement.
On January 6, the government notified a rule, restricting disbursement of blood bags to private hospitals from government blood banks.
The move was seen by the opposition and some NGOs as an attempt to force private hospitals to use government scheme.
However, the government denied the allegations citing the old system was medically unhealthy.
