Ayushman enrolments see dip as private hospitals back off over rates, delays: Report
New Delhi: Empanelment of hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana has reportedly dropped significantly, from an average of 316 hospitals per month in 2024 to just 111 per month in 2025, as of April.
Data shared by the National Health Authority (NHA), as cited by Times of India on Monday, revealed that only 443 hospitals were empanelled under the AB-PMJAY across India over the first four months of 2025—161 in January, 187 in February, 40 in March, and 55 in April. The latest update for May shows just 20 hospitals were added to the scheme.
The significant drop has raised concerns among healthcare associations, who point to low package rates and delayed payments as the primary reasons for the waning interest from the private sector, especially among large corporate hospital chains.
However, a senior official from the NHA, the body responsible for implementing AB-PMJAY, sought to downplay the drop. “Empanelment is taking place and that some of the new empanelments may not have been updated as they were migrating to a new system,” TOI quoted him as saying.
The Indian Medical Association has also weighed in, urging the government to raise package rates to make treatment under the scheme more sustainable. "The rates should be raised to at least Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) level," the news outlet quoted an IMA office-bearer as saying.
According to Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav, 609 private hospitals have voluntarily opted out of AB-PMJAY since 2018. "The reasons for hospitals voluntarily opting out include empanelment only for Covid period, hospitals were closed or non-functional, changes in hospital entity, hospital relocated, ongoing reconstruction or renovation, unavailability of specialist doctors, voluntary withdrawal from scheme, package rates, opting out due to certain treatment packages reserved for public hospitals only (Chhattisgarh and Gujarat), and no referral from public hospitals (Karnataka)," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP: Govt hospital staff booked for sexually assaulting woman in pretext of ultrasound test
Gorakhpur (PTI): A hospital employee was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the pretext of an ultrasound test here in the district women's hospital, police said on Saturday.
According to the complaint, the woman, a resident of the Gulriha area, visited the district women's hospital on Thursday morning for an ultrasound test.
She was directed to a room, where Abhimanyu Gupta was conducting ultrasounds. When her turn came, the accused allegedly stared at her and told her to remove all her clothes, claiming it was necessary for the test and that a massage would also be required, she said.
ALSO READ: UP: Girl kidnapped, raped multiple times over 25 days; accused held
The woman alleged that once she complied, the accused began making obscene advances and tried to force himself on her. When she screamed, he allegedly gagged her, abused her and threatened to kill her before pushing her out of the room.
She said her complaints within the hospital went unheard, forcing her to approach the police.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the hospital administration constituted a three-member inquiry committee, officials said.
Senior consultant (paediatrics) Dr Jay Kumar said, "The woman has levelled serious allegations against a staff member. Senior officials have been informed, and a departmental inquiry is underway. Strict action will be taken if the charges are proved."
Kotwali Station House Officer Chatrapal Singh said a case has been registered, and efforts are on to nab the accused.
