Free scanning services halted at Karnataka hospital over Rs 140 crore dues

Patients at the Kolar district hospital are now being asked to pay for scans, triggering anger among patients and their relatives and leading to tense scenes.

Several economically weaker patients were left struggling after free diagnostic scanning services at the district hospital in Karnataka’s Kolar were suspended, allegedly due to the government’s failure to clear pending payments of around Rs 140 crore to the service provider.

The services, operated by a private company under a public-private partnership (PPP) model since 2017, had been provided free of cost to economically weaker patients. However, with payments reportedly pending for the past two to three years, the agency cited severe financial strain affecting operations and maintenance, prompting the suspension.

Following the halt, patients are now being asked to pay for scans, triggering anger among patients and their relatives and leading to tense scenes at the district government hospital. Officials have not yet clarified when the services will resume.

A woman from Gangavathi, whose husband requires urgent medical attention, said her family had been running from one office to another for approvals for three days, only to be told that scans would be conducted only if they paid Rs 4,500.

“My husband is very unwell and keeps collapsing. We have been going back and forth for approvals for three days, and now they say they won’t do the scan unless we pay. What are poor people supposed to do? People come here because this is a government hospital meant for the poor,” she said, adding that those who could afford the fee had completed their scans earlier in the day while others were left waiting.

She questioned why patients should suffer due to payment disputes between the government and the service provider. “If their payment hasn’t come, they should question the government. Why trouble poor people like us?” she said.