Private hospitals in Madhya Pradesh, including the state capital Bhopal, are reportedly planning to deny medical treatment to patients who are beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) due to unpaid dues by the government.
From April 15, treatment of poor people under the Ayushman scheme at Madhya Pradesh private hospitals will be stopped unless the state government clears the dues, Dr. Zeeshan Ahmed, President of the United Private Hospitals Directors Association, informed at a press conference. He claimed that payment under the scheme has not been made for the last eight months, taking many hospitals to the verge of closure, the Times of India reported.
Under this government-funded health insurance scheme, eligible patients from economically vulnerable backgrounds can avail of cashless treatment costing up to Rs 5 lakh at impaneled private and public hospitals.
The Ayushman Fund is currently owed around Rs 1,000 crores by the government, which has led to a decline in the financial situation of several hospital operators. In light of this, the organization has put forward its demands, including the immediate payment of outstanding dues for the last eight months. Further, the organization sought the appointment of qualified and skilled personnel at the government level to rectify any error; lastly, they asked for the settlement of treatment expenses under the scheme within a period of 30 to 45 days
This move by the private hospitals has raised concerns about the accessibility of healthcare for the beneficiaries of the scheme. With the majority of healthcare facilities being private in Madhya Pradesh, the denial of treatment by these hospitals.
