Gurgaon: Cashless healthcare is in a shambles in the state. The Haryana chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday threatened to discontinue the Ayushman Bharat scheme over long-pending reimbursements. Warning that private hospitals empanelled under the scheme may stop treating patients after April 20, IMA Haryana said payments that are mandated to be settled within 15 days have been “pending for months”. According to the association, claims dating back to Sept 2025 remain unpaid despite repeated compliance with queries raised by authorities. In a letter dated April 10 to the CEO of Ayushman Bharat Health Protection Authority (ABHPA), IMA Haryana said, “Hospitals cannot continue offering free treatment under the scheme in the absence of timely payments.” Reiterating the warning in the letter, an IMA office-bearer told TOI, “We can no longer run the scheme at a loss.“The letter said that continuation of services “beyond April 20 would be difficult if delays persist”. Beneficiaries fear the impact will be severe if hospitals withdraw. “This scheme saved my life during Covid, but now I’m unsure if I’ll get treatment when I need it,” said Mahesh Singh, a 51-year-old driver from Gurgaon, who requires surgery for a knee surgery.Responding to the IMA’s warning, officials from State Health Agency (SHA) said efforts were underway to clear pending payments and streamline claim processing. “Claims are processed through an online system and payments are released after due verification. We are working to expedite the process and address pending cases,” the official said.Around 1,300 hospitals – including nearly 650 private facilities across Haryana and about 60 in Gurgaon, both govt and private – are empanelled. Over 1.8 crore beneficiaries are registered under the scheme, which provides cashless treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh annually.
