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600 Private Hospitals in Haryana to Halt Ayushman Bharat Services Over Pending Dues

Written by : Jayati Dubey

January 28, 2025

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Source: X (twitter)

Reportedly, the decision follows the government's failure to clear outstanding dues amounting to INR 400 crore.

According to the state unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), at least 600 private hospitals in Haryana will stop providing treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme on February 3 due to long-pending reimbursements.

The decision follows the government's failure to clear outstanding dues amounting to INR 400 Cr, as reported by the Times of India.

Ayushman Bharat, the government’s flagship healthcare scheme, currently covers around 1,300 hospitals in Haryana, including 600 private facilities.

The withdrawal of private hospitals from the scheme is expected to impact thousands of beneficiaries, as many rely on these facilities for essential treatments and surgeries.

Hospitals Struggle Amidst Cash Crunch

Doctors and hospital administrators have raised concerns over the financial strain caused by the delayed payments.

A doctor from a Gurgaon-based impaneled hospital highlighted the difficulties faced in running operations without essential funds.

"The speed of reimbursements is sluggish, and new bills keep accumulating. Our payments should be released immediately," the doctor said.

Dr Mahavir Jain, President of IMA-Haryana, echoed similar concerns, stating that hospitals had been awaiting reimbursements for months.

"It is exceedingly difficult for doctors to operate hospitals without funds. These medical bills are already discounted by the hospitals, yet the payments remain pending. How will hospitals survive if they do not receive the bare minimum?" he asked.

According to IMA officials, hospitals have received only 10-15% of the total reimbursement claims filed with the government, further exacerbating the financial distress.

Government Response

Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, hospitals submit reimbursement claims through an online portal after treating patients covered under the program.

The state government is responsible for processing and disbursing these funds. However, hospital associations claim that the payment process has been slow and inefficient.

IMA members had previously raised the issue with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Although he directed the prompt release of funds, hospitals have reportedly received only a fraction of the total pending amount.

Dhirendar K Soni, Secretary of IMA-Haryana, described the situation as “extremely unfortunate,” stating that even after 15 days, no significant payments had been made.

“The funds received have substantial unwarranted deductions,” he added.

Ayushman Bharat Officials Remain Hopeful

Responding to the announcement, Ankita Adhikari, Joint CEO of Ayushman Bharat (Haryana), claimed that the government had already initiated the process of fund release.

Despite this assurance, several hospitals remain firm in their decision to suspend services.

Dr Jyoti Yadav from Kamla Hospital confirmed that the withdrawal of services from February 3 was still in place.

"We will support the IMA and suspend services. We handle one to two new patients under Ayushman Bharat daily, and conduct eye surgeries that will now be put on hold," she stated.

Impact on Beneficiaries & the Healthcare System

Launched in 2018, the Ayushman Bharat scheme provides free healthcare coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family per year.

Over 1.2 crore individuals in Haryana are enrolled in the initiative, which covers a wide range of medical services, from routine tests to critical surgeries.

The scheme primarily benefits low-income families with annual earnings below INR 2.5 lakh, as well as the elderly and other eligible groups.

However, the delay in reimbursements has put hospitals under financial strain, making it difficult for them to continue services under the program.

If the issue remains unresolved, thousands of patients across Haryana could face disruptions in their medical care, forcing them to seek expensive private treatment or rely solely on government hospitals.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.


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