New Delhi— Nearly two months after the launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi, only 19 out of over 1,200 private hospitals have enrolled, raising serious concerns about the scheme’s viability in the capital’s private healthcare sector.
Despite government efforts to expand access to affordable care, leading hospitals have opted out, citing low reimbursement rates, payment delays, and lack of trust in the process.
Key Issues Raised by Private Hospitals
- Reimbursement rates under the scheme reportedly cover only 30–40% of actual treatment costs—less than half for many general and tertiary care procedures.
- These rates are also lower than the outdated Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates, which haven’t been revised since 2014.
- Payment delays beyond the promised 15–30 days disrupt hospital cash flow.
- Administrative hurdles, heavy documentation, and technical issues add further strain.
Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Director General of the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), said:
“The scheme sounds good in principle, but the reimbursement rates are ad-hoc and unviable. Hospitals are forced to operate at a loss.”
AHPI, representing hundreds of private hospitals, has written to the Delhi government demanding:
- Reinstatement of the 1% interest clause on delayed payments (removed in recent versions of the scheme).
- Annual inflation-linked revisions to rates.
- A scientific cost assessment to determine fair reimbursements.
Dr. Gyani emphasized that 85% of tertiary care beds in India are in the private sector, making private participation crucial to the scheme’s success. But with no new hospitals opening in Tier-III towns and urban hospitals increasingly reluctant to participate, accessibility remains a challenge.
Dr. Narin Sehgal, owner of Sehgal Neo Hospital and AHPI Delhi Chapter Secretary, echoed similar concerns:
“The scheme is good in intent, but not practical with current rates. Large hospitals cannot absorb such losses. Payment systems need streamlining, and trust must be restored.”
What’s at Stake
The Ayushman Bharat scheme, intended to provide cashless healthcare to over 50 crore Indians, risks poor implementation in major metros like Delhi unless private sector concerns are addressed. Experts warn that without policy reform, timely payments, and fair pricing, private hospital participation may remain limited, undermining the scheme’s objectives.
