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600 Private Hospitals in Haryana to Suspend Treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana


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The Haryana unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced that starting February 3, 2024, 600 private hospitals across the state will stop providing treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. This decision follows delays in clearing reimbursement dues of approximately ₹400 crore by the state government.

Impact on Patients and Hospitals

The suspension will affect the 1.2 crore people in Haryana registered under Ayushman Bharat, a central government initiative launched in 2018 to provide free healthcare of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually. The scheme covers everything from basic tests to complex surgeries and is meant for low-income families and senior citizens.

Out of the 1,300 hospitals empaneled with the scheme in Haryana, 600 are private facilities. Many of these hospitals have struggled to manage their operations due to delayed reimbursements.

Hospitals Unable to Sustain Operations

Doctors and hospital administrators have expressed their frustration over the financial burden caused by pending payments.

  • Dr. Mahavir Jain, President of IMA (Haryana), said, “Hospitals are already offering services at discounted rates under the scheme. It is impossible for us to survive without reimbursements. Only 10-15% of the bills raised have been cleared by the government.”
  • A Gurgaon-based doctor added, “Payments are released at a sluggish pace, and new bills keep accumulating. We are unable to manage our expenses.”

The IMA emphasized that hospitals typically raise reimbursement requests online after treating Ayushman Bharat patients, but payments have been delayed for several months.

Government Assurances Not Fulfilled

IMA officials revealed that the issue was raised earlier this month with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who ordered the immediate release of funds. However, hospitals claim they have received only a small fraction of their dues, with significant and unexplained deductions.

  • Dhirendar K. Soni, Secretary of IMA-Haryana, stated, “It is unfortunate that even after 15 days, no significant payments have been received. Hospitals cannot operate under these circumstances.”

Official Response

Ankita Adhikari, Joint CEO of Ayushman Bharat (Haryana), said her office was not informed about the suspension of services.
“We have initiated the release of funds, and we are optimistic that the issue will be resolved within a week. We hope hospitals won’t need to take such drastic action,” she said.

Hospitals in Gurgaon to Join Suspension

In Gurgaon, 60 hospitals are empaneled under Ayushman Bharat, including Park Hospital, Centre for Sight, Pushpanjali Hospital, and others.

  • Dr. Jyoti Yadav of Kamla Hospital stated, “We support IMA’s decision and will suspend services from February 3. We see one to two Ayushman Bharat patients daily, mostly for eye surgeries. These procedures will be stopped if the suspension takes effect.”

What’s Next?

As the deadline approaches, the government faces mounting pressure to resolve the issue. If the reimbursements are not cleared promptly, the suspension could disrupt healthcare access for millions of beneficiaries across Haryana, leaving many without affordable treatment options.

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