Ayushman Bharat services normal in Haryana despite IMA strike, says state
Synopsis
Despite the IMA's call to suspend Ayushman Bharat services, Haryana says no eligible beneficiary was denied treatment since 31 August — and it is disputing a widely circulated ₹12,000 crore dues figure as factually incorrect. The state's firm pushback signals a widening rift between hospital associations and governments over scheme reimbursements.
Key Takeaways
Haryana government confirmed AB-PMJAY services continued normally as of 2 September , despite the IMA 's suspension call.
No complaint of denied treatment was received since the scheme was halted on the night of 31 August .
The State Health Agency disputed reports of ₹12,000 crore in outstanding dues to hospitals, calling them 'factually incorrect'.
All empanelled hospitals were directed to prioritise eligible AB-PMJAY beneficiaries and continue services as usual.
Beneficiaries denied treatment on 31 August or 1 September can file complaints; non-compliant hospitals face action under prescribed rules.
Health services under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) continued without major disruption in Haryana, the state government confirmed on Wednesday, 2 September, pushing back against concerns that the Indian Medical Association's (IMA) call to suspend the scheme had impacted beneficiaries. The State Health Agency said no complaint of denied treatment had been received since the scheme was briefly halted on the night of 31 August.
State Response to IMA's Suspension Call
The IMA had called on empanelled hospitals to suspend services under AB-PMJAY, a move that raised fears of disruption for millions of low-income beneficiaries across the state. The Haryana government, however, said all empanelled hospitals were directed to continue treatment as usual, with priority given to eligible patients under the scheme.
Regular coordination was maintained with district-level officials, District Implementation Managers, and empanelled hospitals throughout the period, according to the state government. The volume of claims submitted during this period further indicated that services remained largely operational, officials said.
Dues Controversy: State Disputes ₹12,000 Crore Figure
The State Health Agency also moved to counter reports published in certain newspapers claiming that outstanding dues of ₹12,000 crore were owed to hospitals under the scheme. The agency termed these figures 'factually incorrect', warning that such reports create 'unnecessary confusion among beneficiaries and the public.'
Officials stated that the actual status of payments and claims is assessed strictly through a prescribed procedure, and urged the public to rely only on official information rather than unverified or incomplete reports.
Complaints Mechanism and Action Against Non-Compliant Hospitals
The State Health Agency made clear that any beneficiary who was denied treatment at an empanelled hospital on 31 August or 1 September may file a complaint, which will be investigated under the prescribed procedure. If any hospital is found to have refused treatment to an eligible beneficiary or deliberately obstructed care, the agency said appropriate action will be taken against the hospital in accordance with the rules.
This comes amid a broader national standoff between medical associations and the government over reimbursement rates and pending dues under AB-PMJAY, a scheme that covers health insurance of up to ₹5 lakh per year for economically vulnerable families.
Assurance to Beneficiaries
The State Health Agency assured all families covered under AB-PMJAY that they can continue to avail treatment at empanelled hospitals across Haryana as per the prescribed procedure. Beneficiaries were urged not to be influenced by rumours, unverified information, or misleading reports circulating in public.
With the IMA-government standoff over scheme dues showing no immediate signs of resolution at the national level, how long hospitals in Haryana maintain compliance with state directives will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
000 crore dues figure is politically significant — if accurate, it undercuts the IMA's central justification for the suspension. But the agency's claim rests on self-reported hospital data and claim volumes, not an independent audit, which limits its credibility. The real question is whether other states facing similar IMA pressure will hold the line as firmly, or whether the scheme's reimbursement architecture — long criticised for slow settlements — will force a renegotiation. Beneficiaries caught in the middle deserve a transparent, publicly verifiable accounting of what is actually owed and when it will be paid.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ayushman Bharat services running normally in Haryana?
Yes, according to the Haryana government, AB-PMJAY health services continued without major disruption as of 2 September. The State Health Agency said no complaint of denied treatment had been received since the scheme was briefly stopped on the night of 31 August.
Why did the IMA call for suspension of Ayushman Bharat services?
The Indian Medical Association called on empanelled hospitals to suspend AB-PMJAY services amid a broader dispute over reimbursement rates and pending dues owed to hospitals under the scheme. The specific trigger in Haryana was linked to the stoppage that began on the night of 31 August.
Is it true that Haryana owes hospitals ₹12,000 crore under Ayushman Bharat?
The Haryana State Health Agency has termed reports of ₹12,000 crore in outstanding dues as 'factually incorrect', stating that the actual payment status is assessed through a prescribed procedure. The agency urged the public not to rely on unverified figures.
What happens if a hospital denied treatment to an Ayushman Bharat beneficiary?
Beneficiaries who were refused treatment at an empanelled hospital on 31 August or 1 September can file a complaint with the State Health Agency. If an investigation confirms that a hospital deliberately denied or obstructed treatment, the agency has said appropriate action will be taken against that hospital under applicable rules.
Who is covered under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?
AB-PMJAY provides health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year to economically vulnerable families across India. In Haryana, eligible beneficiaries can avail cashless treatment at government-empanelled hospitals as per the scheme's prescribed procedure.
