Bihar Legislative Council Members Unite in Demand for Medanta Hospital to Provide Full Ayushman Bharat Treatment
In a significant development in Patna, members cutting across party lines in the Bihar legislative council on Thursday strongly demanded that the Jay Prabha Medanta Superspecialty Hospital provide comprehensive medical treatment to economically disadvantaged patients under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The issue sparked intense debate during the council session, highlighting concerns about healthcare accessibility for the poor.
Call Attention Motion Raises Patient Complaints
JD(U) MLC Sanjay Singh initiated the discussion through a call attention motion, revealing that during his recent visit to the hospital, numerous poor patients had complained about being denied treatment despite holding valid Ayushman cards. Singh emphasized the hospital's social responsibility, noting that it had been allotted land for just one rupee and therefore should prioritize healthcare services for the needy sections of society.
Cross-Party Allegations of Implementation Gaps
The concerns were echoed by other legislators across party lines. JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar raised serious allegations that the Mukhyamantri Chikitsa Sahayata Kosh, a state-level healthcare assistance fund, was not being properly implemented at the Medanta facility. Meanwhile, RJD legislator Ajay Kumar pointed to significant gaps in the execution of healthcare schemes at the hospital, suggesting systemic failures in service delivery to eligible beneficiaries.
Legislative Council Chairperson Directs Government Action
Council Chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh issued clear directions to the government, mandating that all eligible patients must receive treatment without any unnecessary hurdles or bureaucratic obstacles. The chairperson further stated that if required, a thorough inquiry should be conducted into the matter, with a detailed report to be submitted to the legislative House for review and appropriate action.
Health Minister Clarifies Current Ayushman Bharat Coverage
In response to the legislators' concerns, Health Minister Mangal Pandey provided clarification about the current status of AB-PMJAY services at Medanta Hospital. He explained that treatment under the scheme is presently available in only two specific departments: radiation oncology and cardiothoracic vascular surgery. The hospital was officially listed for these services in October 2025, and since then, 46 beneficiaries have received treatment with over 73 lakh rupees paid by the government.
Minister Pandey emphasized that while the government encourages private hospitals to participate in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, it cannot legally compel them to join. He noted that hospitals must meet stringent super-specialty criteria for empanelment under the program. Additionally, he revealed that one-fourth of the hospital's current 400 beds are reserved for poor patients, with this capacity expected to increase as the hospital expands to 600 beds.
Hospital Administration Responds to Allegations
Dr. Ravi Shankar Singh, Medical Director of Medanta Hospital, addressed the concerns raised in the legislative council. He confirmed that 25% of hospital beds are indeed reserved for economically disadvantaged patients and that treatment is being provided in the empanelled departments as per government guidelines. Regarding the land allotment claim, Dr. Singh rejected suggestions that the hospital received land for one rupee as misleading and inaccurate.
The medical director made a significant offer, stating, "If the government provides us with written instructions to provide treatment to Ayushman card holders on all those reserved beds, we will implement that directive without delay." This statement indicates potential flexibility in expanding Ayushman Bharat services if formal government authorization is provided.
The legislative council discussion has brought to light important questions about healthcare equity and the implementation of government welfare schemes in private healthcare institutions. As Bihar continues to work toward universal healthcare access, the outcome of this legislative intervention could set important precedents for public-private partnerships in medical services across the state.
