Hospitals demand money, raise Ayushman Bharat grievances

A recent analysis of complaints from Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries reveals that the largest number of grievances were about hospitals asking for money for treatment. This contradicts the purpose of the scheme, which is to offer cashless hospital care and reduce out-of-pocket expenses. A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found that many hospitals, more than half of those examined, were involved in illegal money collection practices between 2018 and 2021. The study, conducted by the Centre for Health Equity and the Association for Socially Applicable Research, highlighted that the states with the highest grievances regarding hospital service quality were Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, Maharashtra, Assam, and Bihar had the most complaints related to eligibility and registration. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh reported significant issues with the behavior of hospital staff and the overall quality of services. Most complaints about hospital services centered on money being requested for treatment. Other notable issues included refusal of treatment and lack of available medicines. The study reviewed over 110,000 grievances submitted between October 2018 and March 2022, but 67% were classified as "other," making them difficult to analyze. Researchers requested clarification on this category but were told it was determined by the beneficiaries themselves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, complaints related to eligibility and registration surged. In Assam, the number of grievances was particularly high, with many regarding registration delays of nearly 187 days on average. The CAG report pointed out that a major reason for these delays is a significant shortage of manpower within the state health agency.