Payments Stopped for 100 Hospitals, Another 100 Suspended Under Ayushman Bharat Scheme
In a major push to strengthen healthcare quality and transparency under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated action against nearly 200 private hospitals for allegedly failing to comply with mandatory norms prescribed under the scheme.
Acting on directions issued by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, authorities have stopped payments to around 100 hospitals, while another 100 hospitals have been suspended from the flagship health insurance programme, officials confirmed on Friday.
UP Govt Tightens Monitoring Through HEM 2.0 Portal
According to officials, the action forms part of a broader effort to improve accountability, transparency, and treatment standards for economically weaker patients covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Archana Verma, CEO of the State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services (SACHIS), said the empanelment and monitoring process has become more stringent with the implementation of the Hospital Empanelment Module (HEM) 2.0 portal.
Under the revised framework, hospitals are now required to comply with 35 mandatory standards, including:
- Valid registration certificates
- Fire safety clearances
- Infrastructure norms
- Doctor qualification verification
- Mandatory healthcare registrations
Officials stated that hospitals were repeatedly informed and guided through emails, virtual meetings, phone calls, and official communications to complete migration to the upgraded portal system.
Nearly 95% Hospitals Complied, 200 Failed Despite Repeated Notices
Authorities said that more than 95% of empanelled hospitals successfully fulfilled the revised compliance requirements. However, around 200 private hospitals allegedly failed to complete the process despite several reminders and assistance from the government.
The affected hospitals belong to multiple districts across Uttar Pradesh, including Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Amethi, Amroha, Azamgarh, Baghpat, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Basti, Bijnor, Bulandshahr, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Deoria, Farrukhabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Hathras, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kannauj, Kanpur Nagar, Kushinagar, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Mau, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Pratapgarh, Sant Kabir Nagar, Sultanpur, Varanasi, Shahjahanpur, Jalaun, Mirzapur, Ambedkar Nagar, Rampur, and Sonbhadra.
NABH Certification and Digital Healthcare Push Intensified
Officials said the strict action was necessary to ensure that beneficiaries under the scheme receive quality and standards-based healthcare services.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also directed all empanelled hospitals to obtain certification from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).
Alongside compliance monitoring, the state is accelerating healthcare digitisation through the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)-enabled hospital management systems and phased rollout of Electronic Health Records (EHR).
Officials added that authorities have intensified scrutiny in cases involving alleged misuse of doctors’ degrees and credentials, warning that strict action will be taken against violators under existing rules.
Focus on Transparency and Better Patient Care
The latest crackdown reflects the Uttar Pradesh government’s attempt to tighten oversight of private hospitals operating under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and improve healthcare delivery for economically vulnerable patients.
Health officials believe that stricter audits, digital monitoring systems, and mandatory accreditation norms will help curb irregularities and enhance patient safety across the state.
