Ayushman Bharat in Delhi Faces Setback as Private Hospitals Opt Out"

Delhi’s Ayushman Bharat Rollout Struggles as Private Hospitals Stay Away

New Delhi, August 8, 2025 — Four months after the official launch of Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the national capital, the scheme is facing major roadblocks. Most large private hospitals in Delhi have refused to join, citing low reimbursement rates and delays in payments as key concerns.

Low Private Hospital Participation

While Delhi has more than 1,200 private hospitals, only about 100 are currently empaneled under Ayushman Bharat. Big names like Fortis, Max Healthcare, Apollo Indraprastha, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital are missing from the list. This has created a huge gap in access for the city’s over 40 lakh potential beneficiaries.

According to the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), the scheme’s package rates are much lower than actual treatment costs. Hospitals also complain of frequent delays in claim settlements, making it financially risky to participate.

> “We cannot sustain operations with delayed reimbursements and below-cost treatment packages. The government must ensure fair rates and timely payments,”

— said Dr. Rajeev Malhotra, a senior member of AHPI.

Demand for Interest on Delayed Payments

Private hospitals have formally requested the Delhi government to add a 1% monthly interest clause for payments delayed beyond 30 days. This demand comes after multiple reports of payment processing taking 60–90 days or more in other states.

Implementation Challenges

The scheme was launched in Delhi on April 5, 2025, with Ayushman cards being distributed from April 10. However, empanelment has been slow due to:

Infrastructure gaps in claim processing systems.

Delayed signing of MoUs with private hospitals.

Shortage of trained staff to manage the scheme’s backend.

Impact on Patients

With fewer private hospitals on board, patients are mostly dependent on government hospitals, which are already overcrowded. This means longer waiting times, delays in surgeries, and limited access to specialized care.

Health activists warn that without active private sector participation, Ayushman Bharat in Delhi may fail to deliver on its promise of cashless, universal healthcare for the poor.

Government’s Position

The Delhi Health Department says negotiations are ongoing with private hospitals to address payment and rate concerns. Officials have assured that backend systems will be improved to speed up reimbursements and expand hospital participation.

Bottom Line:

Unless Delhi finds a way to bring major private hospitals into the Ayushman Bharat network and fix payment delays, the scheme’s reach in the capital will remain limited — leaving lakhs of eligible citizens with few treatment options outside the public sector.