IMA Haryana stops Ayushman Bharat health services in state over non-payment of dues

Edited and posted by Al Ngullie
August 16,2025 06:48 PM
HORNBILL TV

The Indian Medical Association in Haryana announced the suspension of Ayushman Bharat health services in the state, citing non-payment of dues to private hospitals.

Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], August 16 (HBTV): The Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Haryana on Wednesday announced the suspension of Ayushman Bharat health services in the state, citing non-payment of dues to private hospitals. 

In a statement, the IMA said a meeting was held with Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal and officials of the Ayushman Bharat Haryana Health Authority. The IMA delegation included State President Dr. M.P. Jain, IPP Dr. Ajay Mahajan, Elected President Dr. Suneela Soni, Secretary Dr. Dheer K. Soni, and Ayushman Committee President Dr. Suresh Arora.

According to the association, officials informed them that around ₹245 crore had been received by the state authority—₹175 crore from the Haryana government and ₹70 crore from the Centre—as the budget for the current quarter. However, pending arrears to private hospitals stand at around ₹490 crore.

The IMA said officials told them payments had begun on a “first-in-first-out” basis from August 5. Rajpal also indicated that a demand for supplementary funds would be raised during the Haryana Vidhan Sabha’s monsoon session on August 22, but could not specify the amount. The association reiterated its demand for an interest penalty on delayed payments, which was denied.

Earlier this month, nearly 650–700 private hospitals in Haryana had announced plans to withdraw from the Ayushman Bharat scheme from August 7 due to dues exceeding ₹500 crore. The IMA said payment delays of 4–5 months had left hospitals struggling to pay doctors, staff, and vendors.

“IMA Haryana does not want to withdraw Ayushman services; it is being forced to. Hospitals have bills running into crores and are unable to sustain operations. They seem to be funding this government scheme themselves,” said Dr. Ashok Mahajan, former president of IMA Haryana.

More than 1.2 crore people in Haryana are enrolled under the scheme, including low-income families and senior citizens. The withdrawal of private hospitals is expected to strain government facilities.

The state government has said that fund release has begun and expressed hope of resolving the issue within a week. However, private hospitals remain sceptical, citing past delays despite repeated assurances.

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, covering around 55 crore beneficiaries nationwide. According to the Economic Survey 2024–25, the scheme has significantly reduced out-of-pocket health expenditure, with savings of over ₹1.25 lakh crore.

(ANI)