The Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Haryana is set to suspend Ayushman Bharat health services in the state. IMA Haryana, in a meeting with ACS Sudhir Rajpal and officials of Ayushman Bharat Haryana High Authority, announced its decision. They cited that several dues worth Rs 490 crores in private hospitals have been outstanding.
It was noted that nearly Rs 245 crore were received by the Ayushman Bharat High Authority, out of which Rs 175 crore has been allocated to the State government and Rs 70 crore goes to the Centre, as a budget for the quarter. With everything exhausted, IMA pointed out that Rs 490 crore worth of arrears were still pending.
Haryana IMA on pending arrears
The statement from IMA Haryana disclosed that only on August 5 was the process of distribution of funds under Ayushman Bharat begun. The IMA noted that they had informed ACS Sudhir Rajpal of the insufficiency of funds ahead of the Monsoon session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, scheduled for August 22. “He could not tell how much budget he would ask for or accept,” shared the medical body.
Due to the burden of the outstanding payments, IMA is set to falter the MoU signed that levied interest on unpaid amounts. Former medical body president, Ashok Mahajan, told ANI that hospitals are running short on budget which has led to unpaid doctors, staff and vendors. Mahajan also complained about delayed payments and undisclosed deductions being made which has led to further losses in the IMA.
Who will withdraw from Ayushman scheme?
This comes just days after at least 650 hospitals in private hospitals in Haryana decided to withdraw from the Ayushman Bharat scheme starting today, August 7. The prolonged delay of more than 4 months has led to this decision.
More than 1.2 crore people are enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat scheme which not only includes senior citizens but low-income families. With private hospitals stepping back, healthcare would become more inaccessible with an added pressure on the existing subscribers to the scheme.
With iffy assurance from the State government, hospitals are sceptical when the budget will be resolved. The flagship scheme, which covers Rs 5 lakh per family a year in medical expenses, has around 55 crore beneficiaries with 12.37 crore families dependent on it. These numbers make up to 40% of the economically weaker population of the country.