Pending ESI dues: Pvt hospitals to stop cashless treatment

Bengaluru: Aug 30: Private hospitals empanelled under the ESI scheme will stop their cashless treatment services starting from September 1. The decision comes after the union government failed to clear outstanding dues of over Rs 100 crore.

Addressing a press conference in the City on Saturday, the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), however, said that they would suggest that patients avail treatments at concessional rates and have it reimbursed by the government later.

Hospitals claimed that the irregular pay had made it difficult for member hospitals to function. Dr Alex Thomas, president of AHPI, said, “Repeated meetings with ESI authorities, union minister for labour, principal secretary of labour to the State government and the ESI director have not resolved the issue. Hence it has been decided to stop cashless treatment.’’

The member hospitals of AHPI have sought uniform guidelines to ensure speedy settlement of claims, which is currently absent. Besides, they have sought a revision of prices.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Alexander Thomas, executive director, AHPI, said that the claims had not been settled for the last two years. There are over 40 network hospitals including major players such as Narayana Health, Ramaiah hospitals and HCG in AHPI.

“The issue has been there for a long time now. We do not know what will happen in future. For now, we have been asked to wait for five more months,” he said.

Noting that there was no standardisation, Dr Thomas said that there had been instances of money being deducted at the time of reimbursement without any explanation.

“The beneficiaries can avail the hospital services at concessional rates by paying cash and get it reimbursed by ESI later,” said Dr Mudit Saxena, chief operating officer, HCG. They too faced issues being part of the network, he said. A number of tertiary medical care facilities including transplantation, dialysis and cardiac ailments come under cashless treatment.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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