Lok Sabha Question No. 3613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Withdrawal of Private Empanelled Hospitals from Ayushman Bharat
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3613 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH MARCH, 2026

## WITHDRAWALOFPRIVATE EMPANELLED HOSPITALS FROM AYUSHMAN BHARAT

## 3613. SHRI RAHULGANDHI:

Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that several private empanelled hospitals have withdrawn from the Ayushman Bharat scheme and if so, the number of hospitals that have withdrawn from the scheme since its inception, year-wise and State-wise;

- (b) the reasons for private hospitals withdrawing from the scheme;
- (c) the number of Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries in the country affected by such withdrawal, State-wise;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the recent reports that ongoing admissions and treatments of beneficiaries were halted as a result of such withdrawals from the scheme and if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure adequate care to affected beneficiaries; and
- (e) the number of pending claims and the total amount of unpaid reimbursements under Ayushman Bharat since its inception, year-wise (by year of claim) along with the reasons for the delay in releasing such reimbursements?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d): Under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), hospital empanelment is a continuous process and is undertaken by the implementing State/UT based on the requirements and availability of healthcare providers meeting the criteria as per empanelment guidelines of National Health Authority. The empanelment of private hospitals under the scheme is entirely voluntary.

As on 28.02.2026, the empanelment of hospitals under AB-PMJAY has increased from 6,917 hospitals in FY 2018-19, comprising 3,013 public and 3,904 private hospitals, to 36,229 hospitals, comprising 19,483 public and 16,746 private hospitals. All eligible beneficiaries under the scheme can avail treatment through a network of these 36,229 empanelled hospitals across the country.

As per the empanelment guidelines under the scheme, empanelled hospitals cannot deny treatment to eligible beneficiaries. In cases of denial of treatment by an empanelled hospital, beneficiaries can register their grievances through the Centralized Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS) or the 24×7 toll-free helpline number 14555. Such grievances are monitored through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at the District, State and National level. At each level, designated nodal officers and Grievance Redressal Committees are in place to examine and resolve the grievances.

(e): Under the scheme, settlement of claims is a regular and uninterrupted process and claims are settled by respective State Health Agencies as per claim adjudication guidelines issued by National Health Authority. As per the guideline, the permissible turnaround time for settlement of claim to hospitals is within 15 days of claim submission for intra-state hospitals (hospitals located within the State) and within 30 days in case of portability claims (hospitals located outside the State). Further, the claims submitted by empanelled hospitals are scrutinized based on the clinical documents, investigation reports and other supporting records, in accordance with the prescribed standard treatment guidelines.

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