JP Nadda asks Punjab to clear private hospitals’ dues, AAP demands funds

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday hit out at the Punjab government and asked it to clear dues to private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
“I urge Shri @BhagwantMann to clear the dues of the hospitals as soon as possible, for there are many families, especially our hardworking farmers, benefitting under the Ayushman Bharat programme”, Nadda posted on X.
“Instead of cheering on the party unit in Delhi, it would suit Bhagwant Mann to concentrate on the dwindling state of affairs in Punjab”, the post added.
Stressing that the Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched to help financially backward families, ensuring them medical cover, Nadda claimed “Due to the mismanagement of the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab, people have lost access to free healthcare”.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government has been struggling financially since 2023, due to the rising debt and falling revenue clubbed with the rising cost of subsidies.
The AAP has reacted to the Union minister’s attack, hitting back at him and demanding funds from the Centre.
A statement by the party on Friday said “JP Nadda should know that the Centre has held back Punjab’s National Health Mission funds valued at Rs 800 crore for the last two years. We demand from Mr Nadda that he release Rs 8,000 crore under various schemes that the Centre owes to Punjab. If you care so much about the people of Punjab, why have you held back the money”.
Notably, Punjab’s Private Hospital and Nursing Home Association (PHANA) has put a stop to cashless treatment under the government’s health insurance schemes like the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
PHANA said that private hospitals in Punjab will only render treatment under the government scheme only after the state clears Rs 600 crore as dues.