Haryana's Ayushman Bharat Scheme Grapples with Rs 400 Crore Payment Backlog
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Haryana has formally addressed Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, raising significant concerns over substantial delays in payments under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. According to the association, outstanding dues have accumulated to more than Rs 400 crore, severely impacting the financial stability of empanelled hospitals across the state.
Systemic Delays and Misleading Information Highlighted
In a detailed letter to CM Saini, IMA Haryana president Dr. Sunila Soni emphasized that payments, which are mandated to be cleared within 15 days of claim submission, remain pending since September 2025. She stated, "Hospitals are struggling with outstanding dues of more than Rs 400 crore. Queries are put and even after clearing these queries, payments are not made." The association alleges that officers are misleading the Chief Minister regarding the scheme's implementation, exacerbating the crisis.
Dr. Soni further noted that despite funds being released by the Finance Department in November, procedural bottlenecks have stalled disbursement. Additionally, many cases under the Chirayu scheme have also gone unpaid, compounding the financial strain on healthcare providers.
Leadership Vacuum and Policy Paralysis
Honorary secretary Dr. Yogesh Jindal pointed out critical systemic gaps, including the absence of a full-time CEO for the Ayushman Bharat Haryana Health Protection Authority (HHPA). He explained, "Even though the link officer is trying his best, his limited powers have led to policy paralysis." This leadership void has slowed decision-making and created operational bottlenecks, hindering the scheme's effectiveness.
Unimplemented Committees and Patient Care Impact
The association also highlighted that empanelment and grievance committees, approved by CM Saini in January 2025 to include IMA representation, have not been activated. Dr. Ajay Mahajan, Chairman of IMAHBI, remarked, "Meetings of these committees are supposed to be held monthly, but none have taken place in the last five months. This has blocked new empanelments and delayed approval of specialties."
This situation is adversely affecting patient care, as many private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat are unable to manage costs without timely reimbursements. The financial uncertainty threatens hospital sustainability and access to quality healthcare for beneficiaries.
Call for Immediate Intervention
The IMA has urgently appealed to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to personally intervene. Key demands include expediting pending payments, activating the stalled committees, and appointing a permanent CEO for HHPA to restore functionality and transparency in the scheme.
