Ayushman Bharat scheme has been bankrupted in Punjab. Under this health insurance scheme, Punjab could not pay the seven months’ arrears of 16 crores to PGI Chandigarh. Due to this PGI Chandigarh has stopped the treatment of such patients of Punjab.However, the Health Secretary of Punjab has now said that it will be paid to the PGI in a week. Punjab’s Principal Health Secretary Ajay Sharma said that the government owes Rs 300 crore under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The matter is with the finance department and it is expected that the dues will be cleared within a week.
Although Punjab’s health secretary has now said that a week to a PGI every month, the institute treats around 1,200-1,400 patients from Punjab under the insurance scheme. Manjinder Singh of Fazilka district said, For the past four months, we have been denied treatment under the insurance scheme for my aunt’s knee surgery.We expected from PGI, but it has stopped treatment now will be paid. Punjab’s Principal Health Secretary Ajay Sharma said that the government owes Rs 300 crore under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The matter is with the finance department and it is expected that the dues will be cleared within a week.The PGI said that the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat scheme from Punjab are not eligible for benefits under the scheme from August 1. Any beneficiary seeking fresh admission will have to pay user fee like regular patients. A statement issued by the nodal officer of PGI for the scheme said that the beneficiaries from other states will continue to avail the services as usual. The Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 had stopped the treatment of patients from Punjab since March this year after depositing Rs 2.3 crore. The Punjab government owes more than Rs 3 crore to private hospitals in GMCH, Sector 32, GMSH, Sector 16 and Chandigarh under this scheme.
