24 Nagpur Hospitals found denying AB-PMJAY Treatment: RTI

Nagpur: The Maharashtra Health Department has taken disciplinary action against 24 hospitals in Nagpur district for allegedly denying free treatment to patients under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. This was revealed in recent data obtained through a Right To Information (RTI) application.

In the notices issued to the hospitals, the government has suspended some hospitals, while others have been de-empanelled from the scheme, effectively ending their association with it altogether.

The data revealed that between July 2, 2012, and April 24, 2025, nearly 90 cases of treatment denial were recorded, with 87 involving private hospitals and just three linked to government-run facilities.

Also read- Gujarat tops the list as 609 private hospitals exit Ayushman Bharat scheme

The State Health Assurance Society shared the data in response to an RTI filed by social activist Sanjay Agrawal, who had sought information on the number of hospitals that offered free treatment under the scheme.

Shockingly, the response pointed to major administrative lapses and a significant gap in healthcare delivery, putting at risk the lives of underprivileged patients who depend on the scheme for timely and essential treatment.

Among the institutions that turned away patients are Archangel Hospital, Asha Hospital, Cancer Treatment Services (Hyderabad Pvt. Ltd.), City Hospital, Columbia Hospital and Research Center, Gilurkar Multispeciality Hospital and Research Center, Government Medical College and Super Specialty Hospital in Nagpur, Government Medical College Hospital, Kimaya Multispeciality Hospital, Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Lifeline Multispeciality Hospital (Maternity, ICU & Trauma Center), Mayo Hospital and Research Institute in Butibori, Medicare Multispeciality Hospital, National Cancer Institute, Rashtrasant Tukdoji Regional Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Morge Children’s Hospital, Shri Bhavani Multispeciality Hospital and Research Institute, Shri Krishna Heart and ICU Center, Nimbunabai Tirpude Hospital, Suretech Hospital and Research Center Ltd. (including its Polytrauma, Cardiology & Super-specialty wing), and Swami Vivekanand Medical Mission’s Arogya Seva Kendra at Khapri-Parsodi.

Apart from these, private hospitals claimed that Rs 103.19 crore remains unpaid by the government. Nagpur Today sources indicate that these outstanding dues have discouraged hospitals from providing free treatment.

Between April 1, 2024, and April 14, 2025, 19,638 patients in Nagpur district benefited from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, with the majority availing treatment from private hospitals. While the scheme has helped thousands, the denial of services by several hospitals raises concerns about implementation integrity and inclusivity.

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship scheme of the Government that provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries corresponding to 12.37 crore families, constitutingthe the economically vulnerable bottom 40% of India’s population.

Recently, the scheme has been expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of their socio-economic status under ABPMJAY with Vay Vandana Card.

Also read- 8.99 crore hospital admissions worth Rs 1.26 lakh crore authorised under PMJAY