21 Himachal Ayurvedic Hospitals de-empanelled from Ayushman Bharat, HIMCARE
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has de-empanelled 21 Ayurvedic hospitals from the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the state-run Himachal Health Care Scheme (HIMCARE).
According to an order issued by the Himachal Pradesh Swasthya Bima Yojana Society (HPSBYS) under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the hospitals have been de-empanelled with immediate effect from June 23, 2026. The decision has been attributed to the inability to migrate these institutions to the Hospital Engagement Module (HEM) 2.0, a technical requirement for continuing participation in the two government-funded health insurance schemes, reports ABP Live.
According to reports, the de-empanelled institutions include district and regional Ayurvedic hospitals across Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kullu, Solan, Chamba, Dharamshala, Nahan, Keylong, Reckong Peo, Rampur Bushahr, Kangra, Nalagarh, Hadsar, Jogindernagar, Katrain and Kandrour. Rajiv Gandhi Government Post Graduate Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Paprola, and the Regional Ayurvedic Hospital, Chhota Shimla, are also among the affected facilities.
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With the order now in force, patients seeking cashless treatment under AB-PMJAY and HIMCARE at these hospitals may face difficulties until further arrangements are announced. The Health Department has informed deputy commissioners, chief medical officers, the Ayush Department and the concerned hospitals about the decision. Login credentials of the affected institutions on the HIMCARE portal have also been disabled.
The government has not yet clarified what alternative arrangements will be made for beneficiaries currently receiving treatment or seeking services at these hospitals.
The decision has triggered political criticism, with BJP leader Mr Sudhir Sharma questioning the move and alleging that removing Ayurvedic hospitals from the schemes contradicts the government's stated commitment to promoting traditional systems of medicine. He described the step as being against public interest.
The de-empanelment has also sparked discussion among Ayurvedic institutions and beneficiaries across the state. While the Health Department has maintained that the decision was taken due to technical reasons, the development has intensified debate over the future integration of Ayurvedic hospitals within the state's public health insurance programmes.
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