The Youth Congress on Thursday slammed the state government for alleged inconvenience to patients after empanelment of some private hospitals was suspended for failing to implement the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme.

It also demanded that all patients who have registered under the scheme and admitted in private hospitals before the suspension of empanelment should be given medical reimbursement.

State Youth Congress president Lalmalsawma Nghaka said many patients are facing inconvenience after the state government had suspended the empanelment of private hospitals. He said private hospitals were out of the reach of poor families as the government had stopped providing medical reimbursement after the withdrawal of empanelment. He alleged that the

government took control over private hospitals before considering the welfare of patients. He said the government was using force to impose its notified rate in private hospitals.

On December 4, the government had suspended empanelment of 15 private hospitals for failing to implement the healthcare scheme.

Whereas the government pushed to enforce its notified rate to charge patients, private hospitals insisted that they should be allowed to use their existing rate and that the government should provide medical reimbursement to eligible beneficiaries according to the healthcare scheme.

The scheme, which seeks to provide annual health insurance cover upto Rs 2 lakh, was implemented by the state government on October 1.

The government is planning to merge the scheme with the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat — Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana scheme.

Owing to an appeal from the government, three more private hospitals had agreed to implement the healthcare scheme on Wednesday, taking the total number of private hospitals to 16.

Meanwhile, the PCC blamed the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) government, headed by chief minister Zoramthanga, for alleged financial management.

In a statement, the Congress said the government did not allocate sufficient funds for development work.

It alleged that 80 per cent of the state budget had been spent for salary and allowances.

While the government reduced revenue sources, it has raised electricity and water bill at the cost of consumers, the Congress said in the statement.