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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Ayushman Bharat services suspended by hospitals in Haryana over pending dues: IMA
Chandigarh: The Haryana chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Thursday announced the suspension of Ayushman Bharat scheme services in the state over the issue of pending dues of empanelled hospitals despite an assurance from the state government to release the payments at the earliest. In Haryana, the IMA represents nearly 650 private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ( AB-PMJAY ), a flagship scheme of the Modi government that provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. The body had earlier warned that the private hospitals would stop treatment under the scheme from August 7 if pending dues were not cleared. After talks with IMA representatives on Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Haryana, Sudhir Rajpal had appealed to them to reconsider their decision. IMA's Haryana secretary Dhirender K Soni said on Thursday that the state government has failed to clear the reimbursement of private hospitals. "The government itself admits that Rs 490 crore in dues are pending. By the time they will disperse this amount, the pendency will keep on increasing," Soni said. "What will private hospitals do? How can they sustain if they do not get reimbursements on time?" he said. Soni said that talks were held on Wednesday with senior state government officials, but it did not yield the desired outcome. The issue of pending dues and prolonged delay in payments to private hospitals for the past several months was brought to their notice, he said. After the meeting, the Haryana chapter of IMA held a virtual meeting with the private empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman scheme and later it was decided to suspend the services from midnight (beginning August 7), he said. Earlier on Tuesday, the Haryana government had said that the claims of empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme are being settled. On Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Haryana, Sudhir Rajpal, held a detailed meeting with representatives of the IMA, Haryana, to address their concerns regarding delayed payments under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. An official statement said that Rajpal assured them that the state government is actively releasing payments to the empanelled hospitals and remains fully committed to resolving all outstanding issues. During the meeting, Rajpal gave a patient hearing to the delegation and acknowledged the challenges faced by the medical fraternity. He reiterated the government's commitment to clearing all pending dues under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at the earliest. Rajpal had on Wednesday appealed to the IMA representatives and urged them to reconsider their decision on suspending the service, emphasising that such action could disrupt essential healthcare services, particularly for economically weaker sections of society. "We understand your concerns, and we are working to address them. However, a strike would adversely affect thousands of poor patients who depend on the scheme for timely and affordable treatment," Rajpal had said. The government maintains that the State Health Agency (SHA), Haryana, has already processed and paid claims submitted by empanelled hospitals up to the first week of May 2025. During the financial year 2025-26, up to July 16, Rs 240.63 crore has been received from the state and central governments and fully utilised for the settlement of eligible claims. PTI
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Haryana ACS health assures swift action on payments to hospitals
Additional chief secretary (ACS-health) Sudhir Rajpal held a meeting with Haryana representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to address their concerns regarding delayed payments under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He assured them that the state government is releasing payments to empanelled hospitals and remains fully committed to resolving all outstanding issues. Rajpal appealed to the IMA representatives to reconsider their decision to go on strike from August 7, stating that such action could disrupt essential healthcare services (HT File) Rajpal appealed to the IMA representatives to reconsider their decision to go on strike from August 7, stating that such action could disrupt essential healthcare services, particularly for economically weaker sections of society. 'We understand your concerns, and we are working to address them. However, a strike would adversely affect thousands of poor patients who depend on the scheme for timely and affordable treatment,' he said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Haryana IMA to suspend Ayushman Bharat services from August 7
The Haryana Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday announced suspension of treatment for Ayushman Bharat scheme beneficiaries in the State from August 7 after its meeting with the senior government officials remained inconclusive. The Haryana Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday announced suspension of treatment for Ayushman Bharat scheme In a letter to Chief Executive Officer of Ayushman Bharat (Haryana Health Protection Authority) on July 28, the Haryana IMA had brought up the issue of prolonged delay in payments to private hospitals for past several months, and the alleged inaction of the State government despite the matter having been raised several times and repeated assurances. Around 700 private hospitals are empanelled under the scheme and the number of beneficiaries is estimated to be around 1.8 crore. In a press statement on Wednesday late evening, the Haryana IMA said senior government officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal, in a meeting with the office-bearers of the association apprised them that ₹245 crore budget was received and the distribution had started on 'First-In-First-Out' basis to the empanelled hospitals, but there was no commitment on the remaining dues. The officials said the demand for the supplementary budget would be placed in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly, but they could make commitment on the amount of the budget to be sought, said the press release. Similarly, the officials also refused to pay interest on the delayed payments as per the Memorandum of Understanding. The meeting was attended by Haryana IMA president Mahaveer Jain and former president Ajay Mahajan, among others. ' IMA Haryana held an online meeting with all the empanelled hospitals. After extensive discussions, everyone unanimously decided to suspend Ayushman services from the midnight tonight,' said the press statement. In a press statement on Tuesday, the State Health Agency had said that the Health and Family Welfare Department of Haryana had settled and paid the claims submitted by the empanelled hospitals till the first week of May. A total of ₹.2,900 crore was disbursed to the hospitals since the inception of the scheme. During the current financial year, an amount of ₹240.63 crore has been received from the State and Central governments till July 16.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
32 FIRs, 32 arrests in July as Haryana steps up crackdown on illegal abortions
Gurgaon: Thirty-two suspects named in 32 cases were arrested across Haryana last month on the suspicion that they facilitated illegal abortions or engaged in sex-determination before birth. Most of these cases – eight – were registered in Nuh. Two each were filed in Charkhi Dadri, Hisar, Jind, Rewari, Panipat, Panchkula, Palwal and Rohtak; and one each in Narnaul, Kurukshetra and Karnal. More cases were in the process of being registered. Those arrested include clinic operators, their staff members, and unlicensed practitioners who were allegedly involved in carrying out or facilitating illegal abortions. This information was disclosed at a meeting of the state task force formed this year to improve Haryana's sex-ratio at birth (SRB). Officials said the health department has also issued notices to 38 private hospitals and clinics for allegedly violating the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (ACT) Act and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. These include 14 facilities in Rohtak, six in Panipat, and four each in Hisar, Karnal and Bhiwani. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Much of this crackdown is the result of authorities 'reverse tracking' abortions that were permitted after 12 weeks of pregnancy. TOI had earlier reported that 824 abortion cases were flagged for 'reverse tracking' across all Haryana districts, and 786 have been scrutinised so far. Haryana govt's crackdown is part of the broader campaign to enforce legal safeguards on abortion norms and clamp down on any illegal practices. It was ordered after Haryana recorded a decline in the sex ratio at birth (SRB). Last year, the state's average SRB – the count of girls born for every 1,000 boys – fell to 910, the lowest since 2016. According to govt's own assessment, the drive is making headway. "Haryana's sex ratio at birth improved to 907 girls per 1,000 boys by July-end, up from 899 during the same period last year," additional chief secretary (health) Sudhir Rajpal, who heads the task force, said at the review meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Rajpal also instructed health officials to intensify action, including cancelling the licences of doctors found complicit in facilitating illegal abortions. IVF centres are now facing stricter oversight — all embryo implantations must be registered on an online portal. "Police have been asked to coordinate closely with health teams to identify unregistered abortion centres and track down offenders," Rajpal said, adding that he has sought progress reports on all FIRs filed over the last month. In a first-of-its-kind move, the state has decided to involve the transgender community in celebrating the birth of girl child. Transgender persons will visit households where a girl is born — replicating a tradition usually reserved for boys — and hand over a certificate that says Rs 21,000 will be invested by the govt under the 'Aapki Beti Hamari Beti' scheme. Transgender people will receive an incentive of Rs 1,100 for every visit. Officials said this initiative, which will be supervised by district chief medical officers, will help help mobilise communities to celebrate the birth of a girl child and promote gender-positive messaging at the grassroots. The department of women and child development told the task force that an awareness advertisement under central govt's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign will be screened in cinema halls across the state.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Haryana health department involves transgender community in celebrating birth of girl child
1 2 Chandigarh: In a landmark move to combat gender bias and improve the sex ratio, Haryana's health department has launched an initiative involving the transgender community to celebrate female births across the state to normalise and elevate the status of girls in society by replicating a cultural tradition reserved typically for boys. Additional chief secretary (health) Sudhir Rajpal announced the initiative during a State Task Force meeting on Tuesday, part of the ongoing 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign. As part of the plan, transgender individuals will visit homes where a girl is born — just as they traditionally do to mark the birth of a boy — and present the family with a certificate for ₹21,000 invested under the 'Aapki Beti Hamari Beti' scheme. In return, they will receive an incentive of at least ₹1,100 from the govt. The district's chief medical officer (CMO) will supervise the campaign. The move comes amid a broader push to eliminate illegal abortions and tighten enforcement around sex-selective practices. Rajpal reported that Haryana's sex ratio improved from 899 to 907 between Jan and July this year compared to the same period in 2023. To sustain the momentum, health department has been directed to reverse-track all abortion and MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) cases beyond 12 weeks, especially when women already have daughters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Winter Charm Across Europe's Streets Portfolio Magazine Read More Undo In July alone, 32 FIRs were registered, resulting in as many arrests. Four additional FIRs are in process, and 38 notices have been issued to clinics and hospitals suspected of violations. The state also plans a crackdown on IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) centres allegedly involved in illegal sex determination. Rajpal ordered that all IVF implantations must now be registered under antenatal care (ANC) protocols to enable better surveillance. Police have been asked to work closely with the health department in tracking and shutting down illegal abortion centres, with Rajpal demanding a progress report on pending FIRs (first-information reports) within the week. Meanwhile, the women's and child development department prepares for an awareness screening campaign in cinemas to push the message of gender equality.
