Private hospitals in Jharkhand threaten to withdraw from Ayushman Bharat Scheme

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, May 22: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised serious concerns over the prolonged delay in payments to private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat health scheme in Jharkhand.

In a joint memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, IMA State President Dr. A.K. Singh and Secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh urged the government to intervene and resolve the issue in the interest of poor patients who depend on the scheme.

The IMA stated that private hospitals have not received payments for treatments provided under the scheme since February 12, 2025.

“There are 750 private hospitals registered under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Jharkhand, and payments to 212 of them have been pending since March 2024,” the IMA officials said, warning that the delay has brought many of these facilities to the brink of closure.

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Dues Cross ₹100 Crore, Financial Crisis Deepens

According to IMA State Treasurer Dr. B.P. Kashyap (Ranchi), dues exceeding ₹100 crore are pending with the government. He noted that hospitals are unable to sustain operations in such financial conditions, leading them to consider shutting down or discontinuing Ayushman Bharat treatments.

IMA officials emphasized that private hospitals have been bearing the cost of treatments provided under the scheme, but the lack of reimbursement from the government has left them with no viable options. “We are now left with two choices — either shut down the hospitals or stop providing treatment under Ayushman Bharat,” they said.

Scheme’s Credibility at Stake, Poor Patients to Suffer

The IMA warned that the scheme, launched to provide free healthcare to economically weaker sections, is on the verge of collapse in the state. “Thousands of underprivileged patients have received treatment through this ambitious scheme, but in the current situation, Ayushman Bharat itself is losing its relevance. This will inevitably tarnish the image of the state government,” said Dr. Singh and Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh.

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They further criticized the contradiction in the state’s approach. “It is ironic that while the government claims to be strengthening healthcare for the poor, it is simultaneously jeopardizing the Ayushman Bharat Scheme by withholding crucial payments,” they added.

IMA Demands Immediate Government Action

The IMA has urged the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to clear the pending payments to private hospitals. “Timely disbursement of dues is essential to ensure uninterrupted treatment for poor patients and to preserve the credibility of the state’s healthcare initiatives,” the association said.