Union Health Minister JP Nadda slams Punjab Govt for mismanagement of Ayushman Bharat payments

New Delhi [India], September 20 : Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday slammed the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to settle Ayushman Bharat dues in Punjab.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has been under severe financial stress since 2023, given the rising state debt and depleting revenues with the increasing cost of subsidies.
"Ayushman Bharat was conceptualised to aid the economically backward families with ensured medical cover, and today, due to the mismanagement of the state government, under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, people have lost access to free healthcare," Nadda added.
Questioning Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Nadda stated, "Why has Chief Minister Mann's government not cleared the dues of the private hospitals? Before the elections, they promised more clinics and health centres, but today, his government cannot work for the cause of the poor."
He urged the Punjab Chief Minister to clear the dues of the hospitals as soon as possible.
"I urge CM Mann to clear the dues of the hospitals as soon as possible, for there are many families, especially our hard-working farmers, benefiting under the Ayushman Bharat program. Instead of cheering on the party unit in Delhi, it would suit CM Mann to concentrate on the dwindling state of affairs in Punjab," Nadda added.
The Private Hospital and Nursing Home Association (PHANA) in Punjab has declared a halt to cashless treatments under the government's health insurance schemes, including the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
This decision comes in response to the state government's unpaid debts amounting to Rs 600 crores. PHANA stated that private healthcare facilities across Punjab will only participate in these schemes once the state government clears the outstanding dues.