Ayushman Bharat: Nursing cell suspends cashless service
Members of the Nursing House Cell, IMA Punjab, the association which represents private hospitals and nursing homes across the state, today announced the suspension of cashless services under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme for Punjab residents due to pending payments of Rs 600 crore to hospitals.
Association members said the decision came after months of unresolved payment issues, with huge payments pending for the last six months. The association apologised to the people of Punjab for this measure and said the hospitals were now deeply in debt due to non-payment of dues.
Secretary, Nursing House Cell, IMA Punjab, Navjot Dahiya, said representatives of the cell had previously engaged with the CEO of the State Health Agency, Punjab, and the Health Minister to resolve the payment issues. But despite repeated assurance of payment clearance within 15 days, no action has been taken to address the issue. With no resolution in sight and hospitals facing punitive action for refusing treatment, the Nursing House Cell, IMA Punjab, has officially halted these services.
In Jalandhar, there are about 200 private hospitals, of which the Ayushman Scheme was running in 69.
Union members said the State Health Agency, Punjab, had violated the memorandum of understanding (MoU) by delaying payments and had no legal right to take action against hospitals for denying the services.
They said despite around 300 mails sent by hospitals, the CEO of State Health Agency, Punjab, had ordered action against them, which points to a vindictive attitude towards private healthcare providers. They said the current situation had forced hospitals into bankruptcy as the state government continued to push free healthcare schemes without sufficient funding.
The scheme has been expanded to include patients who can afford private healthcare, thereby overburdening hospitals and depriving the poor of access to care, they said.
Many hospitals were struggling to pay their staff and suppliers, taking loans to cover operational costs, they added.
