Corporate hospitals are hesitant to join the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to concerns about its financial viability, according to NATHEALTH, an industry body representing healthcare providers. Abhay Soi, President of NATHEALTH and Chairman & Managing Director of Max Healthcare, stated that urban corporate hospitals face higher costs, making current scheme rates unsustainable. He suggested that either increasing the rates or reducing compliance costs related to infrastructure could make participation feasible.
Ayushman Bharat, launched in 2018, aims to provide health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually to over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families, approximately 55 crore individuals. In September 2024, the Union Cabinet extended the scheme to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income, potentially benefiting around 6 crore additional individuals. As of September 9, 2024, over 35.4 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, with the government providing more than ₹1.07 lakh crore in financial coverage for approximately 7.79 crore hospital admissions under the scheme.
Despite these expansions, many leading corporate hospitals and healthcare chains have not empaneled their facilities under the scheme. As of June 2024, over 29,000 hospitals, including 12,625 private hospitals, have been empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
NATHEALTH emphasizes the need for adjustments to the scheme’s pricing structure or compliance requirements to accommodate the higher cost structures of urban corporate hospitals, thereby enabling their participation in providing broader healthcare access.
