The Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Haryana unit on Tuesday withdrew its call for an indefinite suspension of Ayushman Bharat services after a delegation of private hospitals met Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and state BJP president Archana Gupta and received assurances that the government would address outstanding payments and operational issues.
Key grievance: pending payments and service disruption
Private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat in Haryana had staged a 24-hour suspension of services to scheme beneficiaries on 1 September, protesting against the non-payment of claims and what the association described as mismanagement in scheme implementation. The IMA said the pendency of payments stood at around ₹1,200 crore, a figure that hospital representatives flagged during the meeting.
Following talks on Monday, the IMA state unit announced it would not proceed with plans to suspend services from 16 September, pending concrete steps by the state government to address the hospitals’ concerns.
What was discussed at the meeting
The delegation met the Chief Minister and the state BJP president to press for a resolution of the issues that, according to hospital representatives, are affecting patient care under the central government’s health insurance scheme. The IMA indicated it sought closer coordination with the State Health Agency and the Haryana Health Protection Authority for smoother implementation and quicker claim settlements.
- Outstanding claims: About ₹1,200 crore pending, according to the IMA.
- Previous action: 24-hour suspension of services on 1 September by empanelled private hospitals.
- Current stance: Indefinite suspension call withdrawn after assurances from the Chief Minister.
The association said the Chief Minister assured the delegation that steps would be taken to reduce the pendency. The IMA reported it would work in close coordination with the State Health Agency and the Haryana Health Protection Authority to address implementation gaps and ensure beneficiaries continue to receive care.
Impact on beneficiaries and hospitals
The Ayushman Bharat programme provides cashless secondary and tertiary care to eligible families. Disruptions in empanelled private hospitals’ participation can directly affect access to care for the scheme’s beneficiaries, shifting patient load to public hospitals and delaying treatment for time-sensitive conditions.
For private hospitals, delayed reimbursements strain working capital, particularly for high-cost procedures covered under the scheme. The IMA’s mobilisation followed months of complaints from member hospitals across the state, which said the backlog was creating operational stress.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pending payments | ₹1,200 crore (reported by IMA Haryana) |
| Service suspension | 24-hour suspension on 1 September |
| Decision after meeting | IMA withdrew call to suspend services from 16 September |
Next steps and monitoring
Both the IMA and the delegation indicated they expect the state machinery — principally the State Health Agency and the Haryana Health Protection Authority — to take immediate measures to reduce the claims backlog and to streamline operational processes. The association said it would remain engaged with authorities to monitor progress.
The development will be watched closely by beneficiaries, private hospitals and public health managers. Any recurrence of service disruptions could have direct consequences for patients dependent on the scheme for tertiary care that private hospitals typically provide.
Officials of the State Health Agency and the Haryana Health Protection Authority were not quoted in the IMA statement summarising the meeting. The Chief Minister’s office acknowledged the meeting and the assurance offered, as reported by the association.
