600 private hospitals withdraw Ayushman card treatment in Haryana

In a major blow to beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, over 600 Ayushman-empanelled hospitals across Haryana have withdrawn treatment facilities for Ayushman card holders citing inadequate and delayed payments along with other issues.

IMA Haryana had served a notice to the state government last month. A meeting of IMA Haryana was held with Health Secretary and Ayushman officials on Wednesday, but no conclusion could be reached. After that, IMA Haryana withdrew the services, said Dr MP Jain, president, IMA Haryana.

He said that the government does not have proper and adequate budgetary provision to run this ambitious scheme of the Union Government.

He claimed that around Rs 500 crore of over 600 private hospitals is pending with the government till July 15. In the last three days, only Rs 30 crore was disbursed. It was shared by the officials in the meeting, which is not sufficient. “In such circumstances, private doctors cannot meet expenditures,” said the state president.

About the problems being faced by the patients, Dr Jain said that it was unfortunate that they have been forced to take such harsh steps. “The notice was served well in time to the state government, but it did not show any intention to resolve the issue,” said the state president.

In Karnal, around Rs 40 crore is pending with the government. Private doctors criticised the government over the issue. IMA Karnal president Dr Deepak Prakash, along with Dr Rajat Mimani, Dr Gaurav Bhaskar, Dr Vibhav, Dr Gaurav Sachdeva and others raised the issue to streamline the ambitious scheme.

Dr Prakash said that not only delayed payment resolution, they also want streamlining of the whole process, including portal issue, which launched in February 2024. He also highlighted the issue of difficult communication with the state authorities.

Dr Mimani said that illogical deduction and rejection after discharge of the patients put a huge financial loss on the hospital. “This practice should be stopped which causes only harassment to private hospitals after treating Ayushman card holders,” said Mimani.

Non-emergency patients turned back

Rohtak: A number of patients covered under the Ayushman scheme were turned back from private hospitals on Thursday. Talking to "The Tribune", Dr RK Chaudhary, patron, IMA (Rohtak chapter), said, "Rs 25 crore of Rohtak hospitals has been pending for four months. How will small and medium hospitals run if the government delays the payment?" he asked. He said non-emergency patients were turned back after explaining the situation to them. "But those brought in a critical condition were given the required medical aid and referred to government hospitals," he said. Dr Aarti Sahu, president of the Rohtak chapter of the IMA, said no fresh patients covered under the scheme were being treated or admitted at Ayushman-empanelled hospitals.

60 empanelled hospitals in Panipat

Panipat: Private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman scheme continued their OPD and other services, but did not admit patients. Dr Jasbeer Malik, district president, IMA, Panipat chapter, said a total of 60 hospitals were empanelled under Ayushman in Panipat and about four-five surgeries were performed in each hospital daily.

Long queues at Civil Hospital

Sirsa: A large number of patients thronged the Civil Hospital, leading to long queues and overcrowding. Normally, the hospital sees about 900 to 1,200 patients in its OPD, but on Thursday, the number jumped to nearly 1,500. The IMA Sirsa president, Dr Gaurav Mehta, said the dues were piling up. He said the must appoint a coordinator or form a board at the district level to handle the scheme better.