Haryana Private Hospitals Suspend Ayushman Bharat Services Over ₹1,200 Crore Dues
· India · The Hindu, Indian Express
Private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Haryana suspended services to beneficiaries for 24 hours on September 1, 2026, to protest outstanding payments. IMA Haryana president Sunila Soni said around ₹1,200 crore owed to private hospitals had remained unpaid since January, with the payment pendency crossing six months despite an agreed 15-day timeline for clearing claims. Ajay Mahajan, Chairman of the IMA–Hospital Board of India, said private hospitals normally submit around 2,500 claims daily, but no claims were filed on Tuesday as part of the protest. The IMA has warned of a complete withdrawal of services from September 16 if the dues are not cleared. Haryana Health Department officials disputed the claim, saying Ayushman services continued to function normally.
Why it matters
Lakhs of Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries in Haryana — covering poor and vulnerable families entitled to free hospital treatment — face disruption of cashless care if private hospitals escalate the protest and withdraw services from September 16. The stand-off exposes a structural funding squeeze in a flagship central scheme, with private hospitals accusing the state of inadequate budgetary allocation, a ballooning beneficiary base, and a manpower crunch in claim processing.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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