Private hospitals can finally breathe
easily. In a major relief to 2500 members of Telangana Private Hospitals
and Nursing Homes Association (THANA), Hyderabad High Court has
temporarily cancelled the government's rule of imposing 10% Luxury tax
on them. This is a big relief for all the workers and members.
The
stay was imposed following a petition which was moved by THANA state
president Dr.D.Narayan Rao against Telangana Commercial Taxes department
(CDT). It has to be recalled that earlier hundreds of private hospitals
were shocked when CDT asked the hospitals to pay 10% luxury tax from
June 2nd.
Lots of protests came
regarding this tax. THANA members said that this 10% increase in Luxury
tax will force most of the hospitals to shut down. It will also increase
tariff for treating all the infectious diseases. Dr.B.Narender Reddy
said, "The tax rule was completely out of context.
It
was irrational and this is just going to make healthcare more
expensive. Even patients who come for treatment with infectious diseases
like swine flu, TB, chicken pox, measles will have to pay a huge sum
due to this luxury tax."