Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday, 21 June chaired a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, directing officials to modernise government hospitals across the state so they match — and eventually surpass — the facilities available at private hospitals. The meeting covered renovation works, medical college construction, and the expansion of Ayushman Bharat coverage in public health institutions.

Key Directives from the Review Meeting

Chief Minister Saini instructed that civil hospitals in all districts be upgraded to become more convenient and citizen-friendly than their private counterparts. He reviewed ongoing renovation works in district hospitals across Ambala, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Hisar, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Palwal, Panchkula, Rewari, Sonipat, and Nuh, issuing directions to officers on accelerating progress.

In a significant administrative move, Saini directed that the financial powers of Civil Surgeons be increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, enabling faster approvals for development and maintenance works without bureaucratic delays.

Ayushman Bharat Uptake Surges in Government Hospitals

The Chief Minister highlighted a sharp rise in Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries choosing government hospitals for treatment — a trend he attributed to improving infrastructure. In 2024-25, only 8.83 per cent of scheme beneficiaries opted for government hospitals, with the state paying claims of ₹26 crore. By 2025-26, that figure climbed to 32 per cent, with claims reaching ₹126 crore — a near five-fold increase in scheme utilisation within a single year.

Saini directed officials to actively encourage more Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries to avail treatment at government facilities, noting that considerable work still remains to fully realise the scheme's potential in the public health system.

Who Was Present

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary A.K. Singh, National Health Mission Director R.S. Dhillon, and other senior officers.

What This Signals for Haryana's Public Health System

The government's stated priority is making Haryana's public healthcare system more efficient, accessible, and patient-centric. Officials indicated that improvements in diagnostic capabilities, medical infrastructure, and patient care services are being pursued simultaneously across the state. This comes amid a broader national push to strengthen public health delivery under schemes like Ayushman Bharat, and Haryana's data suggests the strategy is beginning to show measurable results. The next phase will test whether the pace of upgrades can keep up with rising demand from scheme beneficiaries.