Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Darshan Singh Choudhary has called for stricter implementation guidelines and tighter norms for hospitals under the government's flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. In an interview published on December 5, 2025, the MP highlighted significant issues faced by beneficiaries, pointing a finger at the monopolistic practices of some private healthcare providers.
Patients Face Harassment, Denial of Benefits
While praising the scheme, launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, as the world's largest health welfare initiative, Choudhary did not mince words about its ground-level challenges. He stated that patients often find their savings wiped out despite being admitted under the scheme, without receiving complete treatment.
"Once a patient is admitted, all his money vanishes but full treatment does not happen," the MP remarked. He detailed common grievances, including hospitals denying benefits by citing time limitations, falsely claiming certain illnesses are not covered under the scheme, and overall causing considerable trouble for Ayushman cardholders.
Private Hospital Monopoly a Key Challenge
Choudhary identified the monopoly of private hospitals as a central reason for the scheme's faltering implementation. He accused some institutions of double-dipping—taking money from both the government and the patients—and then necessitating external pressure to provide the entitled care.
Addressing criticism that the scheme primarily benefits private players, the MP acknowledged the critical role of government hospitals, especially evident during the pandemic. He clarified that modernizing public healthcare remains the government's responsibility, which it is undertaking. However, he defended the inclusion of private healthcare, stating it is commendable that the government enabled access for those who prefer it. The crucial need, he emphasized, is fixing responsibility for proper monitoring of these private entities.
Proposed Solutions and Stricter Oversight
To tackle these systemic issues, Darshan Singh Choudhary proposed a multi-pronged approach focused on transparency and local accountability.
He recommended forming local-level monitoring committees comprising public representatives, administrative officers, local citizens, and even Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries. This committee would oversee the scheme's execution at the grassroots level.
Furthermore, he demanded absolute clarity on the list of diseases covered, to end harassment over technical names. Hospitals should be mandated to display these guidelines prominently. The MP also stressed the need for a crackdown on middlemen who exploit patients.
Most significantly, Choudhary advocated for punitive measures against hospitals that refuse patients under the scheme or violate its norms. "Scheme’s provisions need to be made tighter for hospitals," he asserted, calling for concrete provisions to hold erring hospitals accountable.
