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GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 5707
TOBE ANSWERED ON27TH MARCH, 2026
LOWUTILISATION OFAB-PMJAYIN BIDAR
5707. SHRISAGARESHWAR KHANDRE:
Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the low utilisation of Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY in
Bidar district, Karnataka, if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether any assessment has been conducted by the Government regarding awareness,
cardactivationand beneficiaryoutreach,if so, the detailsthereof;
(c)whether theissue oflimitedempanelmentofprivate hospitalshasbeenexaminedandif so,
the steps takenby the Government toexpandit;
(d) whether complaints of denial of services or overcharging have been received, if so, the
actiontakenbythe Government thereon;and
(e) the measures taken by the Government to strengthen monitoring, grievance redressal and
last-mile delivery of cashless healthcareinBidar?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (e): National Health Authority (NHA) along with State Health Agencies, has taken
several measures to increase Ayushman card saturation. In this regard, NHA implemented
“Aapke Dwar Ayushman”, a mission-mode campaign that mobilized an on-ground taskforce
consisting of frontline workers, and agents from service providers such as Common Service
Centres to undertake door-to-door visits to mobilize beneficiaries and assist them in creating
Ayushman cards.
The Beneficiary Identification System (BIS-2.0) allows self-verification thereby eliminating
unnecessary intermediaries. Ayushman Mobile Application enables on-the-go beneficiary
verificationandcard creationusing face-authtechnology.The scheme has a comprehensive media and outreach strategy to spread awareness and
empower beneficiaries. This includes advertisement over various media platforms including
newspapers, community radio, street plays, digital displays, radio campaigns, mass
messaging, telecastof beneficiary testimonialsetc.
As on 28.02.2026, a total of 1.90 crore Ayushman cards have been created in Karnataka that
includes4.57 lakhAyushman cardscreatedinBidar district.
Further, the utilization of the scheme in Bidar district has been progressively increasing year
onyear.The detailsof hospitalisation inthe district are reflected inthe table below:
FinancialYear Numberofhospitaladmissions Authorizedamount
authorized (incroreofrupees)
2021-2022 29,559 23.25
2022-2023 40,627 29.75
2023-2024 56,306 34.94
2024-2025 62,465 39.78
Under the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the
empanelment of private hospitals is entirely voluntary. However, the number of private
hospitals empanelment has been progressively increasing year on year, as reflected in the
table below:
FinancialYear Numberofprivatehospitalsempanelled
2021-22 7,512
2022-23 9,103
2023-24 12,018
2024-25 14,496
2025-26(Ason24.03.2026) 16,499
NHA continuously monitors utilization patterns under the scheme and actively encourages
the participation of private healthcare providers. Under the scheme, a hospital-specific toll-
free helpline number 14413 has been set-up to address the concerns of hospitals on a real-
time basis includingconcerns relatedtoempanelment.
As per the empanelment guidelines under AB-PMJAY, empanelled hospitals cannot deny
treatmenttoeligible beneficiaries.In cases of anyirregularities inavailingtreatmentor denial
of treatment byanempanelledhospital, beneficiaries canregister theirgrievancesthrough the
Centralized Grievance Redressal Management System or the 24×7 toll-free helpline number
14555.
Under AB-PMJAY, such grievances are monitored through a three-tier grievance redressal
mechanism at the District, State, and National level. At each level, designated nodal officers
andGrievance Redressal Committees are inplace toexamineandresolve the grievances.
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