Punjab fails to pay up, state patients lose Ayushman cover at GMCH-32, Chandigarh
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Chandigarh: Patients from Punjab seeking treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, are once again facing disruptions.
The hospital has asked them to seek treatment outside the scheme due to a pending payment of Rs 1 crore from the Punjab government, a recurring issue that has left many low-income families in distress.
Sources at GMCH revealed that the Punjab government is expected to release the outstanding amount soon, and the hospital anticipates resuming Ayushman Bharat treatments for Punjab beneficiaries by next week. However, the situation stands in stark contrast to that of Haryana patients, who continue to receive treatment under the scheme despite a larger pending amount of Rs 5 crore.
This is reportedly due to assurances from the Haryana administration.
This is not the first time Punjab patients have been affected. In Jan, GMCH temporarily suspended Ayushman Bharat treatments for Punjab beneficiaries. A similar disruption occurred earlier in 2024, when the hospital halted services due to an unpaid Rs 5 crore from the Punjab government for previously rendered treatments.
On average, around 2,000 patients from Punjab seek admission at GMCH every month under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
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Prof AK Attri, director principal of GMCH-32, confirmed the ongoing situation: "We are still treating Ayushman beneficiaries from Haryana and Himachal. It is expected that Punjab will clear its dues, and we will soon resume treatment for the state's beneficiaries by next week."
The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched to provide free healthcare services to low-income families, covers inpatient treatments up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. This includes critical procedures such as major surgeries and chemotherapy. For countless families, the scheme has been a lifeline, sparing them from crippling medical debt and the need to sell land or property to afford treatment.
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