Question : DELAY IN REIMBURSEMENT OF BILLS

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the medicine suppliers of C.G.H.S. dispensaries often go on strikes as they do not get their payment from the Government on time;

(b) whether the hospitals recognized by the Government for providing medical facilities to C.G.H.S. beneficiaries in the country including Maharashtra are reluctant to entertain the patients for not getting the due payment from the Government;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the year-wise amount allocated by the Government under this head during the last three years; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for the early settlement of the pending bills of hospitals/medicine distributors with a view to ensure that the C.G.H.S. beneficiaries are not put to any difficulty?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a): The last time authorised chemists refused to supply medicines indented on them by the CGHS was during the period 29.10.2007 to 02.11.2007 in Thiruvananthapuram. Thereafter no instance of local authorised chemists refusing to supply medicines has come to light.

(b): No.

(c): Question does not arise in view of reply to (b) above

(d): Payments made to hospitals during the last three years are given below:

        Year         Rs.Crores
2006-07         349.47	2007-08         438.45	2008-09	498.00