Launched in 2013-14, RBSK aims to improve the survival, growth and development of children aged 0-18 years. | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.
Bringing relief to small and medium private hospitals, the finance ministry has approved the release of over ₹23 crore in fees pending since 2017 for pediatric surgeries performed under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
The ministry last week approved a cabinet note proposing that the pending payments be released using grants available from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency implementing the state’s health programmes. The proposal is now awaiting Cabinet approval.
This issue of long delay in clearing payments to private hospitals that performed surgeries on children under the scheme was reported by The Hindu in September last year.
The private hospitals that demanded payment of dues had earlier warned that they would suspend pediatric operations under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme if the dues were not cleared. Several hospitals have also said they are considering legal action, and some have even gone to court.
Dispute since 2016
The dispute dates back to 2016, when the state introduced additional treatment codes under the RBSK without prior approval from the centre. Hospital authorities said they conducted operations in good faith based on government codes between 2016 and 2018, but subsequent audits showed the procedures lacked central approval, leaving claims pending.
Officials attributed the delay to a technical issue in the progress listing on the SAST portal, which halted the processing of claims.
Launched in 2013-14, the RBSK aims to improve the survival, growth and development of children aged 0-18 by screening them for the ‘4 Ds’ – birth defects, deficiencies, diseases, developmental delays and disabilities. Children diagnosed with the disease are given free treatment and surgery under the National Health Mission, including care in closed private hospitals where services are not available in government facilities.
The Cabinet’s nod is key
The hospital association claims that the responsibility for clearing the fees rests with the state government as the procedures were put in place through its own notifications. They said the long delay had put significant financial pressure on hospitals that provided specialist care. “We are still cautious about the payment and can relax once the cabinet clears it,” said Pavan Kumar Patil, representative of the Karnataka branch of the Indian Medical Association.
Harsh Gupta, principal secretary (health), said the file will be placed in the next cabinet and after its approval, action will be initiated to resolve the issue.
Published – 14 March 2026 20:22 IST
