Private Hospitals Halt Scheme Participation; Other States Like Manipur and J&K Face Similar Challenges
Healthcare Services Under Ayushman Bharat Scheme Disrupted in Haryana
Private hospitals empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in Haryana have officially suspended services under the scheme starting midnight of August 6, citing unpaid dues of ₹490 crore.
The suspension impacts over 650 hospitals, affecting access to cashless healthcare for 1.8 crore beneficiaries, including economically weaker sections and senior citizens.
Key Highlights:
- Scheme Affected: Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY
- Hospitals Involved: 650+ private empaneled hospitals in Haryana
- Pending Dues: ₹490 crore (as per IMA)
- Beneficiaries Affected: Over 1.8 crore people
- Service Suspension Date: From 00:00 hrs, August 7
- Other Affected States: Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan
What Officials & Hospital Authorities Are Saying
Ankita Adhikari, Joint CEO of Ayushman Bharat Haryana, acknowledged the delays:
“It’s true there has been a delay in disbursing ₹470 crore. The 15-day turnaround time for payments is difficult to meet.”
IMA Haryana demanded a budget allocation of ₹2,500–3,000 crore annually and a penalty for delayed payments, but was told interest could not be paid.
What Hospitals Are Demanding:
- Timely disbursal of dues
- Realistic package rates for treatment
- Sufficient quarterly budget allocation
- Interest on delayed payments (as per MoU)
Dr. Madhu Madhukar (Tula Hospital, Palwal) stated:
“We support the Ayushman Bharat scheme, but it must be funded adequately. We cannot accept Ayushman cards until issues are resolved.”
Current Status & What’s Next
- The IMA has scheduled a review meeting on August 14 to determine next steps
- The Haryana government allocated ₹245 crore for this quarter but hospitals say it’s insufficient
- National IMA data reveals Ayushman dues across India have crossed ₹1.21 lakh crore
States Facing Similar Crises:
- Manipur: Service suspension by private hospitals starting August 16
- Jammu & Kashmir & Rajasthan: Facing delayed claim reimbursements and operational challenges
The suspension of Ayushman Bharat services in Haryana signals a deeper crisis in India’s flagship healthcare scheme. With private hospitals unable to sustain operations amid delayed payments and inadequate funding, millions of vulnerable citizens face disrupted access to essential care. Unless urgent financial and administrative reforms are implemented, the program’s long-term sustainability could be at serious risk—not just in Haryana, but across India.
