29,000+ Hospitals Empanelled Under Ayushman Bharat
In a recent announcement to the Lok Sabha, Union Health Minister J P Nadda revealed that more than 29,000 hospitals have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) as of June 30. This includes 12,625 private hospitals, all of which have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with their respective State Health Agencies (SHAs).
Grievance Redressal Mechanisms
Beneficiaries of the scheme can address their grievances regarding treatment denial or other issues through various channels:
- Centralised Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS)
- Central and state call centres
- Direct communication with SHAs
This ensures that beneficiaries have multiple avenues to seek redressal.
Action Against Non-Compliant Hospitals
Minister Nadda emphasized that beneficiaries can approach the State Health Agency to take necessary actions against hospitals that do not comply with the scheme’s requirements, including potential de-empanelment. The effectiveness of each hospital is monitored based on the number of treatments provided under the scheme, a metric that is continually updated.
Ongoing Efforts to Expand Hospital Network
The process of hospital empanelment is ongoing, with continuous efforts to expand the network of participating hospitals. Strategies to achieve this include:
- Engaging with hospitals and their associations
- Conducting workshops to address concerns
- Simplifying the empanelment procedures
These efforts have resulted in a steady increase in the number of empanelled hospitals.
State-wise Empanelment Data
According to the latest data, several states have a significant number of empanelled hospitals:
- Uttar Pradesh: 2,634 private and 2,948 public hospitals
- Tamil Nadu: 1,202 private and 996 public hospitals
- Andhra Pradesh: 1,027 private and 1,406 public hospitals
- Gujarat: 868 private and 1,747 public hospitals
- Bihar: 564 private and 2,968 public hospitals
In the capital city of Delhi, 52 private and 11 public hospitals are empanelled. In West Bengal, the numbers are 10 private and 27 public hospitals, while Odisha has one private and 11 public hospitals empanelled under the scheme.
Minister Nadda concluded that the ongoing efforts and strategies adopted for the scheme are aimed at ensuring a broad and effective healthcare network that can provide accessible and quality treatment to all eligible beneficiaries across India.