650 Haryana hospitals threaten to withdraw from Ayushman Bharat over unpaid dues

India Today

2 days ago

In a major blow to healthcare access in Haryana, nearly 650 private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme have warned that they will cease providing treatment under the program from midnight of August 7 unless the state government clears pending dues amounting to over Rs 500 crore.The Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Haryana chapter has officially warned that unless payments due till July 15 are cleared and earlier commitments fulfilled, all empanelled hospitals will suspend Ayushman services from August 7.advertisement'If that happens, the responsibility for any inconvenience to poor patients will lie solely with the Government of Haryana,' the IMA declared.CHRONIC ISSUES PLAGUING THE SCHEME
The IMA Haryana has cited a systemic breakdown in the scheme's administration. Since April, hospitals report receiving only 10–15 per cent of their billed amounts, placing immense financial strain on institutions, especially smaller ones.Key grievances include:Over Rs 500 crore in pending dues, including old bills.Heavy and unexplained deductions in claim settlements.Routine bureaucratic delays and harassment.Insufficient budget allocation—only Rs 800 crore of the Rs 2,000 crore requested.Dr Mahaveer Jain of IMA Haryana said, 'Ayushman cards were issued to around 5 lakh people in the state, with over 600 private hospitals participating. Beneficiaries receive free treatment, and hospitals are to be reimbursed by the government. However, since March, payments have stopped. We cannot operate under such financial pressure.'He added that despite promises made in earlier meetings with the government, including one in January that led to partial payment releases, the majority of dues remain unpaid.SMALL HOSPITALS ON THE BRINK, PATIENTS WORRIEDDr Kuldeep Mangla, Secretary of IMA Panchkula, highlighted the challenges faced by smaller hospitals: 'We joined Ayushman Bharat out of respect for Modiji's vision. But our bills are delayed for up to six months, especially since March. There are arbitrary deductions, and our complaints are ignored. Unlike big hospitals, we don't have alternate sources of revenue. If this continues, many of us may be forced to shut down and look for other work.'The potential withdrawal has triggered anxiety among beneficiaries. Abhishek, a middle-class resident and Ayushman cardholder, said, 'Ayushman is a huge help. Without it, private treatment is impossible for families like ours.'Ankush, accompanying his wife Uma for treatment, added, 'Lakhs of families depend on this scheme. We will suffer if it stops.'Uma, who recently received treatment for fractured legs, said, 'I got free treatment only because of Ayushman. It must continue—poor people have no other option.'GOVERNMENT ASSURES ACTIONHaryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao responded to the crisis by stating, 'We are committed to settling the dues of all hospitals at the earliest. Instructions for the release of payments have already been issued.'advertisementDespite these assurances, hospitals remain skeptical, citing repeated delays and unmet promises made in meetings earlier this year with Chief Minister Nayab Saini.Dr Aarti Sahu of IMA reiterated that while the scheme is vital, offering up to Rs 5 lakh in free treatment for low-income patients, the financial burden on hospitals is now unsustainable.'Private hospitals have to bear major operational costs, and without timely reimbursements, it's not possible to continue,' she said.With just days left before the August 7 deadline, the fate of thousands of patients and hundreds of hospitals hangs in the balance.- Ends(With inputs from Surendra Singh from Rohtak)Must Watch