Private Hospitals End Strike as Govt Promises ₹1,000 Crore Dues

Private network hospitals in Andhra Pradesh ended their six-day strike on Tuesday (April 7, 2026), following the State government’s assurance that a portion of their pending dues under the Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva scheme would be cleared within 10 days.

S.V.L. Narayana Rao, vice president of the A.P. Speciality Hospitals’ Association (ASHA), said that, unlike previous assurances, the latest Minutes of Meeting specify that ₹1,000 crore will be released to private hospitals within 10 days. The decision came after a virtual meeting between association members and health officials on Monday (April 6).

Typically, government fund releases are shared between private and government hospitals. This time, however, the ₹1,000 crore is earmarked exclusively for clearing dues owed to around 600 private hospitals. Even after this payment, approximately ₹1,000 crore will remain unsettled.

ASHA estimates that of the ₹3,000 crore in total outstanding dues under the scheme, ₹2,000 crore is owed to private hospitals and the rest to government-run facilities. Dr. Narayana Rao added that the government has also agreed to release ₹150–170 crore monthly for ongoing expenses.

The combined monthly expenses of all 800 network hospitals under the scheme amount to ₹350 crore, with private hospitals covering about 60% of the cost. “Even with the monthly allocation, an additional ₹40–50 crore in dues will continue to accumulate, but this arrangement is a positive step,” he said.

Over 500 private hospitals that joined the strike are expected to resume full services under the Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva scheme from April 8.