Haryana Chief Minister Dismisses Opposition Allegations on Ayushman Bharat Scheme
In a strong rebuttal to the opposition's claims, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday categorically denied allegations of irregularities and delayed disbursal of claims under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state. Responding to an attention motion brought by Congress MLAs in the assembly, Saini asserted that the accusations were baseless, factually incorrect, and far from the truth.
Opposition Motion and CM's Response
The Congress legislators had moved an adjournment motion alleging that private hospitals in Haryana had started refusing treatment to patients, particularly beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, due to delayed payments from the government. However, Chief Minister Saini countered this by stating that no beneficiary had lodged any complaint in the last five months regarding treatment denial linked to non-payment under the scheme.
Saini emphasized that the opposition's portrayal of an emergency-like situation in the state's health sector was politically motivated and exaggerated, calling it an insult to the thousands of doctors and paramedical staff working diligently across Haryana.
Robust Data Highlights Scheme's Functionality
To substantiate his defense, the Chief Minister presented detailed statistics demonstrating the active participation of private hospitals and the government's commitment to timely payments:
- In February 2025 alone, up to February 21, private hospitals submitted 33,911 pre-authorization requests, indicating continued engagement with the scheme.
- During the financial year 2025-26, empanelled private hospitals submitted a total of 5,91,863 claims under Ayushman Bharat.
- In the fiscal year 2024-25, private hospitals submitted claims worth Rs 1,236 crore, of which Rs 1,100 crore was paid, resulting in an impressive settlement rate of approximately 89 percent.
- Over the last three months, around Rs 250 crore was released to empanelled hospitals, further underscoring the government's efforts to ensure smooth financial operations.
Background and Broader Impact
Chief Minister Saini reminded the assembly that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched on December 23, 2018, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme provides eligible families with a health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, covering 2,694 treatment packages.
Additionally, Saini highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Chirayu Yojana, under which claims worth Rs 3,862.36 crore were disbursed for the treatment of 27,42,306 people in Haryana. This data, he argued, reflects the government's dedication to enhancing healthcare accessibility and affordability for its citizens.
The Chief Minister concluded by stating that attempts to spread misconceptions about the Ayushman Bharat scheme's implementation in Haryana are unfounded, and the government remains steadfast in its commitment to providing quality healthcare services to all beneficiaries.
