Private healthcare providers across Haryana have announced a complete suspension of services under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), effective September 16, 2026, according to an official notification released by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Haryana state branch.
The ultimatum follows a prolonged impasse over mounting arrears owed to hospitals by the state administration. The exact total monetary value of the outstanding dues owed to private hospitals by the Haryana government remains undisclosed in public financial disclosures.
The decision to halt scheme-related medical care comes after months of unaddressed financial demands. Dr. Rajeev Gupta, President of the IMA Haryana chapter, addressed the crisis directly, stating, "We have been patient, but the financial strain on private healthcare providers has become unsustainable due to the prolonged delay in clearing dues under the Ayushman scheme."
Private hospitals participating in the public health insurance initiative depend on timely reimbursements to maintain operational liquidity, purchase pharmaceutical supplies, and pay staff salaries. According to the IMA Haryana chapter, repeated appeals submitted to state health authorities failed to yield a concrete disbursement schedule, forcing the association to set the September 16 deadline.
The Haryana State Health Agency has not yet issued a formal public rebuttal regarding the impending service suspension. However, government sources typically cite rigorous audit verification processes and administrative clearance protocols as the primary reasons for delayed payments to empanelled healthcare institutions under state and national insurance frameworks.
Similar payment disputes between private hospital associations and state governments have occurred previously in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, often leading to temporary service disruptions and emergency renegotiations between medical boards and health departments.
Low-income patients in Haryana who rely on the AB-PMJAY scheme for cashless secondary and tertiary care face immediate uncertainty regarding access to private hospital services starting September 16. The impending withdrawal threatens to overload public district hospitals as patients enrolled in the welfare scheme seek alternative treatment channels for surgeries, specialized diagnostics, and inpatient care.
The suspension will remain in effect unless state authorities clear the pending arrears before the September 16 deadline set by the IMA Haryana branch.
