In Haryana, 655 private hospitals have suspended treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for the past 17 days due to non-payment of dues. Doctors finalized the outline of their protest during a meeting in Panipat on August 24. Hospitals are facing financial losses due to persistent delays in payments and irregular deductions.
Chandigarh: Treatment has been halted in Haryana for the past 17 days in private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to outstanding payments. Approximately 655 private hospitals across the state have stopped treating patients under the scheme. Doctors expressed their displeasure with the government's position at a meeting of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Hisar on Saturday.
IMA District President Dr. Renu Chhabra Bhatia stated that the government is trying to hide its shortcomings by sending notices to hospitals and harassing doctors. Hospitals are incurring significant financial losses due to consistent payment delays.
State-Level Doctors' Meeting in Panipat on August 24
A state-level meeting has been convened in Panipat on August 24 to address this issue. During the meeting, doctors finalized the outline for upcoming protests and actions. Doctors state that they have been forced to take this step due to continuous payment delays.
Dr. Chhabra reported that in Hisar district alone, 70 private hospitals were providing services under the Ayushman scheme, all of which have now ceased treatment. This has had a widespread impact on patient services and has exacerbated the health crisis.
₹400 to ₹500 Crore Owed to Private Hospitals
Dr. Renu Chhabra stated that many hospitals have not received any payments since March 2025. Private hospitals are owed between ₹400 to ₹500 crore. Hospitals are suffering significant financial losses due to persistent payment delays, unnecessary deductions, and technical errors.
She also mentioned that the rates fixed by the government are very low, making it difficult to cover costs. Repeated demands for documents and excessive delays in the claim process are increasing the administrative burden. This is affecting the day-to-day operations of hospitals.
Hospitals and Patients Distressed Due to Non-Payment
Dr. Chhabra explained that the impact of this problem has not only affected the operational efficiency of hospitals but has also had a serious impact on employee salaries, medicines, and the purchase of medical equipment. Many hospitals have had to postpone employee payments, and patient services have been disrupted.
Additionally, doctors state that if payments are not made soon, the private healthcare sector could face an even greater financial crisis. This is directly impacting patient health and the quality of medical care.
