The Non-Governmental Hospital Association of Mizoram (NGHAM), an umbrella body of all private and church-run hospitals in the state, on Friday expressed their willingness to implement a healthcare scheme, official sources said.

There was misunderstanding and heated exchange between the state government and private hospitals after the state government had suspended the empanelment of more than 15 private and church-run hospitals for allegedly refusing to implement the Mizoram State Health Car Scheme (MSHCS) in December.

Officials of the state health department said the association after its meeting on Friday informed health minister R. Lalthangliana of its willingness to implement the healthcare scheme.

It 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 medical expense to be charged from patients.

Sources told The Telegraph that the meeting of the association 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).

Lalthangliana, in the mean time, held an emergent meeting with health department officials to discuss about the development. He asked the 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 specific occasion to suit the present situation.

On December 4, the government had suspended the empanelment of most of private hospitals for allegedly being reluctant to implement the healthcare scheme.

The Opposition Congress alleged that the government’s move had severely affected the beneficiaries who were admitted in private hospital and could not claimed 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”.