Haryana private hospitals threaten to withdraw Ayushman Bharat services over pending dues
Gurgaon: Starting February 3, around 600 private hospitals across Haryana are set to halt services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to pending reimbursements amounting to ₹400 crore. The Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Haryana unit announced this decision, citing financial strain caused by delayed payments from the state government.
Out of the 1,300 hospitals empaneled under the scheme in Haryana, 600 are private facilities, serving approximately 1.2 crore beneficiaries registered under the program. Ayushman Bharat, launched in 2018, provides free healthcare coverage up to ₹5 lakh annually for families with lower incomes and other eligible groups.
Doctors expressed their inability to sustain operations without timely reimbursements. “The speed of reimbursements is sluggish, and new bills keep piling up. It’s impossible to run hospitals like this,” said a Gurgaon-based doctor.
Dr. Mahavir Jain, president of IMA Haryana, highlighted that hospitals have only received 10-15% of their billed amounts, with months of payments still pending. “These bills are already discounted. Hospitals cannot survive without receiving even the bare minimum,” he said.
IMA officials revealed that despite discussions with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini earlier this month, where he ordered immediate release of funds, hospitals received only partial and insufficient payments.
Meanwhile, Ankita Adhikari, joint CEO of Ayushman Bharat Haryana, expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved within a week, avoiding disruption of services. However, private hospitals, including those in Gurgaon, are preparing to suspend services until the dues are cleared.
Dr. Jyoti Yadav of Kamla Hospital in Gurgaon confirmed their decision to support the IMA. “We see one to two patients daily under Ayushman Bharat and conduct eye surgeries. These services will stop if the issue persists,” she said.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
