Ayushman Bharat services halted, poor patients in Sirsa bear the brunt

For the past seven days, private hospitals in Sirsa have stopped treating patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, leaving hundreds of low-income families struggling to afford medical care. The protest, led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), has disrupted daily healthcare services for Ayushman cardholders who relied on the scheme for free treatment.

Sirsa district has 77 private hospitals empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. On average, these hospitals treat around 200 patients daily, including 20 to 50 surgeries. All such services have been suspended. Many patients who cannot find specialists in government hospitals are now forced to pay for treatment at private hospitals, adding to their financial burden.

Dr Gaurav Mehta, President, IMA Sirsa Chapter, said the government owed approximately Rs 40 crore to these hospitals for treatment provided over the past five months. He said only about 10 per cent of the amount had been paid so far, which is not enough to keep the hospitals running under the scheme.

Dr Mehta further pointed out that the core issue was the lack of sufficient budget allocation for Ayushman Bharat by the government. “It’s not just about the money,” he said. “It’s about fairness and ensuring hospitals are supported while they serve the poor. We want the government to clear dues up to July 15, only then will we resume Ayushman services.”

The IMA has already announced that the protest will continue until the government responds with a concrete solution.

Meanwhile, patients are facing growing challenges. Many cardholders say they are borrowing money or delaying surgeries that were supposed to be free under the scheme. “We were depending on Ayushman for my father’s operation. Now we are paying from our savings,” said a worried attendant outside a Sirsa hospital.