The Haryana chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced on Thursday the suspension of Ayushman Bharat scheme services in the state. The decision comes amid prolonged delays in clearing pending dues of empanelled private hospitals, despite the state government’s earlier assurance to release payments promptly.
Representation of 650 Empanelled Hospitals
IMA Haryana, which represents nearly 650 private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), highlighted that the state government has failed to reimburse hospitals on time. The flagship scheme of the central government offers health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.
Government Owes ₹490 Crore in Dues
IMA Haryana Secretary Dr. Dhirender K. Soni stated that the government itself has admitted to pending dues amounting to ₹490 crore. “By the time they release this amount, the pendency will keep increasing. How can private hospitals sustain themselves without timely reimbursements?” he questioned.
Failed Talks Precede Service Suspension
As reported by Hindustan Times, the association had earlier warned that hospitals would stop providing services under the scheme from August 7 if the payments were not cleared. On Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sudhir Rajpal met IMA representatives to appeal for reconsideration of the decision. However, according to Dr. Soni, the meeting failed to yield a satisfactory outcome.
Following the discussions, IMA Haryana held a virtual meeting with empanelled hospitals and unanimously decided to suspend services from midnight on August 7.
Government’s Stand on Payment Settlement
The Haryana government maintains that claims from empanelled hospitals are being processed and settled. Rajpal assured the IMA that the state remains committed to resolving the issue at the earliest. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the medical community. However, he urged them to avoid disrupting essential healthcare services, especially for economically weaker sections.
“We understand your concerns and are working to address them. However, suspending services will adversely impact thousands of poor patients who depend on the scheme for affordable treatment,” Rajpal said.
Funds Utilised for Eligible Claims
The state health agency has processed and paid all claims submitted up to the first week of May 2025. Between April 1 and July 16, 2025, the central and state governments provided ₹240.63 crore to the state, which fully utilised the funds to settle eligible claims.