Bareilly witnessed a massive protest by doctors on 11 February as they marched on foot to the District Magistrate’s residence. The protesting doctors, under the banner of Indian Medical Association, Bareilly submitted a memorandum, demanding the release of their pending Ayushman Bharat payments which according to them amounts to crores of rupees. The protesting doctors also demanded for swift resolution of other related issues.Notably, IMA Bareilly became the first branch in the state to take such a stand and pledged not to back down.
Hospitals in Bareilly have not received pending payments for treatments provided under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Despite repeated requests, no concrete action has been taken, leading to widespread frustration among doctors. In response, IMA Bareilly organized a mass protest rally, marching on foot to the District Magistrate’s residence, where they submitted their memorandum demanding immediate resolution.
Earlier, doctors, hospital administrators, and paramedical staff gathered at the IMA Bareilly auditorium. They emphasized on the need to spread awareness about their grievances through social media, reaching both state and central governments as well as the general public. The doctors specifically targeted the agency responsible for processing Ayushman payments instead of the government. They accused the agency of arbitrarily rejecting claims by citing minor discrepancies and procedural barriers. The protestors unanimously agreed to continue their movement until payments were released.
Legal Action Considered against Payment Rejections
Dr. Ajay Bharti suggested seeking legal counsel from senior advocates to file a case regarding rejected payments. He emphasized the need to understand the reasons behind the rejections and ensure that the payments were processed according to standard protocols without unnecessary hurdles.
Doctors under Mental Stress Due to Payment Delays
IMA Bareilly president Dr. R.K. Singh highlighted that hospitals not only provide treatment but also bear significant operational costs. While patients recover and leave, hospitals receive payment rejection messages days later, causing financial and mental stress to the doctors. Without timely payments, hospitals struggle to manage their expenses, often forcing doctors to run their facilities on credit.
Doctors also raised concerns about the increasing number of elderly patients, emphasizing that treatment costs for those above 70 years would rise significantly. Their key demands included tripling the package amount for elderly patients, preventing cancellations after initial approvals, ensuring that the absence of a fire NOC does not lead to payment cancellations, and stopping payment denials over minor technicalities.
Ayushman Yojana: Lifeline for Patients, Burden for Doctors?
Dr. Ravi Mehra acknowledged that the Ayushman scheme is a lifesaver for patients but argued that doctors are being used as scapegoats. He accused the insurance companies handling the scheme of deceiving medical professionals by rejecting approvals after treatments were completed. He warned that arbitrary rejections could lead to a crisis.
Unrealistic Rules Must Be Changed
Dr. Vinod Pagrani pointed out that an average of ₹4 crore in payments remains outstanding for hospitals, which is a significant amount. He criticized agencies for making unjustified deductions and imposing impractical rules, such as requiring doctors to take patients’ photos multiple times a day. He argued that such regulations were unrealistic and called for practical reforms.
Key Doctors Participated in the Protest
As a security measure, the security guards closed the gate of the DM residence. Later, after discussions with City Magistrate Rajeev Shukla, a delegation comprising IMA Bareilly president Dr. R.K. Singh, secretary Dr. Ratnpal Gangwar, PRO Dr. Shalini Maheshwari, Dr. Ravi Mehra, and Dr. Ravi Goyal were granted permission to visit the DM camp office. The delegation submitted a memorandum to the DM, urging for the clearance of pending Ayushman scheme payments and resolution of other related issues.
Several prominent doctors participated in the protest, including Dr. Somesh Mehrotra, Dr. Ruchin Agarwal, Dr. Varun Agarwal, and Dr. Mahendra Gangwar, along with a large number of medical professionals and staff.
