IMA Haryana calls off Ayushman Bharat shutdown after CM Saini's assurance on hospital dues

The Haryana unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Tuesday withdrew its call for an indefinite suspension of Ayushman Bharat services from September 16, after Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini assured a delegation that he would look into the issues faced by empanelled private hospitals.

The decision follows a 24-hour suspension of services to beneficiaries by private hospitals enrolled in the scheme across the State on September 1. The hospitals cited outstanding payments of about ₹1,200 crore, along with other operational difficulties.

A delegation of IMA Haryana met Mr. Saini and the State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Archana Gupta, on Monday. According to the association, the delegation raised several issues, including what it described as mismanagement in the implementation of the scheme and delays in the settlement of claims. The Chief Minister, the association said, told the delegation that steps would be taken to reduce the pendency.

The association added that it wanted to work in close coordination with the State Health Agency and the Haryana Health Protection Authority to address implementation issues and ensure that beneficiaries continue to receive care.

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, launched in 2018, provides eligible families with annual health cover of ₹5 lakh for secondary and tertiary hospital care. Private hospitals join the network voluntarily, treating beneficiaries at rates fixed under the scheme and claiming reimbursement from the designated state agency. Delays in these reimbursements affect the willingness of private hospitals to remain empanelled.

In Haryana, the scheme operates alongside the State's own health protection arrangements, with the State Health Agency handling implementation.

For patients, a prolonged suspension of services would have meant either seeking treatment at other facilities or paying out of pocket. Private hospitals account for a substantial share of secondary and tertiary care in the State, particularly in districts where public facilities are stretched.

The association did not announce a timeline for the action promised by the Chief Minister, and no schedule for clearing the arrears was made public. The pendency of about ₹1,200 crore, which triggered the September 1 protest, remains to be settled.

Tuesday's announcement is therefore a pause rather than a resolution. Beneficiaries can continue to access treatment at empanelled private hospitals, while discussions between the association and State authorities are expected to continue in the coming weeks.