Ayushman Bharat Scheme: The Chhattisgarh Health Department has issued strict directives following complaints that private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme were charging patients amounts exceeding the prescribed package rates and retaining patients despite lacking the necessary facilities. The department has implemented several mandatory rules to ensure transparency across all hospitals associated with the scheme.
Instructions have been sent to all District Collectors and Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs). Under these directives, every hospital empanelled under the Ayushman scheme must install a large display board at a prominent location, such as the entrance or reception area. This board must clearly display—in Hindi—information regarding the ailments treated under the scheme and the corresponding government-prescribed package rates.
The board will provide details on treatment packages and fixed rates for procedures such as heart bypass surgery, cataract surgery, dengue treatment, and dialysis. The objective is to inform patients and their families about the available facilities and package details before treatment commences.
Mandatory Ayushman Helpdesk and Trained Counselors
The Health Department has mandated the establishment of an Ayushman helpdesk and the appointment of trained counselors in hospitals. These counselors will inform patients about which treatments are covered under the Ayushman scheme and which are not.
No Admission Without Necessary Facilities
A crucial aspect of the department’s directives is that a patient cannot be admitted solely for the sake of the Ayushman package if the hospital lacks the specialist doctors or necessary medical facilities required to treat the specific ailment.
If essential facilities—such as an ICU, operation theater, or relevant specialists—are unavailable, the patient must be referred to Mekahara (Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital) or another suitable higher-level medical center without undue delay. Timely referral is emphasized as particularly critical for critically ill patients.
Action Against Charging Extra Amounts
Patients or their families cannot be pressured to pay any amount over and above the package rates prescribed under the Ayushman scheme. Hospitals must treat patients based on their available resources and facilities.
Departmental action may be taken against hospitals that violate these rules. 8 Key Directives for Hospitals
A display board showing the ailments covered and their corresponding package rates must be installed in a prominent location.
Information regarding ailments falling outside the scope of the scheme must be provided at the helpdesk.
Arrangements must be made for a trained Ayushman counselor.
Patients must not be kept admitted if the relevant specialist doctor is unavailable.
Patients must be referred to a higher-level medical center in a timely manner if necessary medical facilities are unavailable.
No pressure may be exerted on patients or their families to pay additional charges.
Hospitals must provide treatment strictly in accordance with their available facilities and resources.
Critically ill patients must be referred to an appropriate hospital in a timely manner rather than being detained if necessary facilities are lacking.
