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Ayushman Bharat Hits 11.69 Crore Admissions, Over Half in Private Hospitals

The Ayushman Bharat scheme has authorised a cumulative 11.69 crore hospital admissions as of late February 2026, with over half occurring in private hospitals. The network of empanelled hospitals has expanded dramatically from under 7,000 in 2018-19 to over 36,000. A structured three-tier grievance redressal mechanism is in place to handle patient complaints at district, state, and national levels. The government assures that claims settlement is regular, with defined timelines for state health agencies to process payments.

Key Points: Ayushman Bharat: 11.69 Crore Hospital Admissions Authorised

  • 11.69 crore total admissions
  • 6.74 crore in private hospitals
  • 36,229 empanelled hospitals
  • Three-tier grievance redressal system
2 min read

Ayushman Bharat crosses 11.69 crore hospital admissions, 6.74 crore in private hospitals: Govt

Govt data shows Ayushman Bharat scheme has authorised 11.69 crore hospital admissions, with 6.74 crore in private hospitals. Grievance redressal system detailed.

"As on February 28, 2026, a total of 11.69 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the scheme - Prataprao Jadhav"

New Delhi, March 23

As many as 11.69 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the Ayushman Bharat scheme till February 28, including 6.74 crore in private hospitals, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said that strict guidelines are in place to ensure that hospitals provide treatment to beneficiaries without refusal.

In case of any denial or irregularity, patients can file complaints through the Centralised Grievance Redressal Management System or call the 24x7 toll-free helpline 14555.

"As on February 28, 2026, a total of 11.69 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the scheme, including 6.74 crore admissions in private hospitals," the minister stated.

"Under AB-PMJAY, such grievances are monitored through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at the District, State and National level," Jadhav added.

He added that at each level, designated nodal officers and Grievance Redressal Committees are in place to examine and resolve the grievances.

The government also highlighted that the number of hospitals empanelled under the scheme has seen a sharp rise over the years.

"From 6,917 hospitals in 2018-19, the network has expanded to 36,229 hospitals as of February 28, 2026. This includes 19,483 public hospitals and 16,746 private hospitals, providing a wide healthcare network to beneficiaries across the country," Jadhav explained.

The minister said that empanelment of hospitals is a continuous and voluntary process, carried out by states and Union Territories based on need and availability of eligible healthcare providers as per National Health Authority guidelines.

On claims settlement, the government said the process remains regular and uninterrupted. Claims are settled by State Health Agencies within a defined timeline of 15 days for hospitals within the state and 30 days for cases involving treatment outside the state under portability.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great numbers, but the ground reality is sometimes different. In my district, some private hospitals still find excuses to delay or deny treatment. The grievance system is there, but the resolution takes time when someone is sick. Hope the monitoring improves.
S
Sarah B
As an expat following India's progress, these figures are staggering. 11.69 crore admissions is a massive scale of healthcare delivery. The inclusion of private hospitals is key to building capacity. A model other developing nations could learn from.
V
Vikram M
The expansion to 36,000+ hospitals is the real story here. It means access in tier-2 and tier-3 cities is improving. My cousin in a small town got treated for appendicitis without having to travel to the state capital. Big relief for rural India.
A
Ananya R
While the scheme is good, we must ensure quality isn't compromised. Just getting treatment isn't enough; it should be good treatment. Hope the guidelines also focus on standard of care and patient outcomes, not just numbers.
K
Karthik V
The 15-day claim settlement timeline is crucial. Delays in payment to hospitals is what often leads to denial of service. If this is being adhered to, it will build trust with private providers. More transparency on actual settlement times would be good.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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