Parliament Question: Validity of Ayushman Card Holders

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1322 TOBE ANSWERED ON 06TH FEBRUARY,2026 VALIDITYOFAYUSHMANCARD HOLDERS †1322.SHRIKULDEEPINDORA:

Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:

(a) whether the Government is aware that Ayushman Card is largely valid only in Government hospitals and such card holders are often not given the priority in private hospitals andif so, the corrective steps beingtakenbythe Government inthisregard;

(b) whether the Government is also aware of such cases where Ayushman card holder patients are not admitted in private hospitals due to delay in payment of dues by the Government tothe hospitals andif so,the detailsthereof;

(c)whether there isanyprovision toidentify such hospitals andseverely penalizethem;and

(d) if so, the number of such hospitals against which action has been taken by the Government so far? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE

(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)

(a) to (d): All eligible beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) can avail treatment through a network of over 33,270 public and private empanelled hospitals.

As per the empanelment guidelines under AB-PMJAY, the empanelled hospitals cannot deny treatment to eligible beneficiaries of the scheme. In case of denial of treatment by an empanelled hospital, beneficiaries can register their grievances through the Centralized Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS) or through a 24*7 toll-free helpline number 14555. Under AB-PMJAY, a three-tier grievance redressal system at District, State and National level has been created to resolve the issues faced by beneficiaries in utilizing healthcare services. At each level, there are designated nodal officers and Grievance Redressal Committeestoaddress the grievances.

*****