• Over 600 private hospitals in Haryana will stop Ayushman Bharat services from February 3 due to pending reimbursements worth ₹400 crore.
  • Hospitals claim delayed payments are unsustainable, while the government says funds are being released and aims to resolve the issue soon.

At least 600 private hospitals in Haryana, India will halt services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme from February 3, citing delayed reimbursements from the government.

The Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Haryana chapter announced the decision after claiming that pending payments totaling ₹400 crore have strained hospital operations.

Ayushman Bharat, a flagship healthcare program launched in 2018, offers free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family annually and covers around 1,300 hospitals in Haryana, including 600 private ones. The scheme benefits approximately 1.2 crore residents, particularly low-income families earning less than ₹2.5 lakh annually.

According to Dr. Mahavir Jain, president of IMA Haryana, hospitals have received only 10-15% of their reimbursement claims, leaving them unable to sustain operations. 

“Our payments should be released immediately as it is exceedingly difficult for doctors to operate hospitals without funds. Around ₹400 crore is pending. These medical bills are already discounted by the hospitals. How will they survive if they do not receive the bare minimum?” he said.

The reimbursement process under Ayushman Bharat requires hospitals to submit claims through an online portal, which the state government is responsible for approving and paying. However, hospital administrators allege delays and unexplained deductions in released funds.

Dhirendar K Soni, secretary of IMA Haryana, expressed frustration over the government’s inaction. He noted that despite raising the issue with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and receiving assurances of prompt payment, only a small portion of the dues has been cleared.

In response, Ankita Adhikari, joint CEO of Ayushman Bharat (Haryana), stated that the government has initiated the fund release and expects the issue to be resolved within a week. 

“We are optimistic that there will be no requirement for such a drastic step,” she told Times of India.

Dr. Jyoti Yadav of Kamla Hospital confirmed that services under the scheme would be suspended starting February 3. 

“We will support IMA and shut down the services. We get around one to two new patients under Ayushman Bharat daily in our hospital. We conduct eye surgeries, which will not be conducted if we suspend the services,” she said.

The suspension of services could significantly impact patients relying on the scheme for affordable healthcare, with 60 hospitals in Gurgaon alone affected.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah