Ayushman Bharat Crisis: Why Jharkhand Hospitals Are Exiting the Scheme: Sample Q&A

The Crisis Unpacked
Jharkhand’s Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY—covering 23 lakh treatments since 2018—now teeters on collapse. 212 hospitals await payments since June 2023; 538 more haven’t been reimbursed since February 2024. Districts like Hazaribagh and Deoghar witness mass exits, risking healthcare for 1.5 crore enrolled families.

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Key Facts
World’s Largest Health Scheme: ₹5 lakh/year/family for hospitalization (Govt./private empanelled hospitals).
Eligibility: Bottom 40% households (SECC 2011 data) + new inclusion of all citizens aged 70+.
Funding: 60:40 Centre-State split (Jharkhand’s dues highlight federal coordination gaps).

Why Payments Stalled?
Despite ₹2,284 crore allocated since 2017:
Administrative Logjams: Delayed verification of treatment claims.
State Capacity Shortfalls: Inadequate grievance redressal mechanisms.
Dual-Scheme Burden: State-funded Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana strains resources.
Result: 60+ hospitals shut, doctors unpaid since March 2024.
Broader Governance Lessons
Fund Flow Failure: Allocation ≠ Timely Disbursement (critical for GS II “policy implementation” questions).
Private Sector Distrust: Non-payment deters hospital empanelment, shrinking healthcare access.
Human Cost: Tribal/low-income groups hardest hit.

Urgent Solutions Needed
Fast-track claim clearance via tech-driven audits.
Bridge federal coordination gaps in 60:40 funding.
Integrate state/Central schemes to avoid duplication.
 
5 Sample Q&A for Exams
Q: Is AB PM-JAY a Central or Centrally Sponsored Scheme?
A: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (60% Centre funding, 40% State).
Q: What caused Ayushman Bharat’s collapse in Jharkhand?
A: ₹190cr payment delays → hospital exits → reduced access for 1.5cr beneficiaries.
Q: How does SECC 2011 data shape AB PM-JAY eligibility?
A: Identifies “deprived” households (rural/urban occupational categories) for coverage.
Q: Why did Jharkhand’s hospitals withdraw?
A: Unpaid dues since 2023 → inability to pay staff/suppliers → financial collapse.
Q: What recent AB PM-JAY expansion was announced?
A: Coverage extended to all citizens aged 70+, irrespective of SECC criteria.