New Delhi: The Centre has disclosed a significant enforcement action against hospitals found violating the guidelines of the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), with 2,359 hospitals de-empanelled, 1,200 hospitals suspended, 29 FIRs registered and penalties amounting to ₹328.49 crore imposed by States and Union Territories.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda provided the figures in a written reply to *Starred Question No. 287 in the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2026, concerning violations of AB-PMJAY guidelines and action taken against erring hospitals.
The reply indicates that enforcement measures have been taken across States and UTs to protect the integrity of the publicly funded health insurance scheme and to prevent beneficiaries from being subjected to practices contrary to AB-PMJAY guidelines.
2,359 hospitals removed from PM-JAY network
According to the data furnished by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a total of 2,359 hospitals have been de-empanelled for violations of scheme guidelines.
De-empanelment effectively removes a hospital from the AB-PMJAY network, meaning that the facility is no longer authorised to provide or claim benefits under the scheme as an empanelled healthcare provider.
The government has also reported that 1,200 hospitals were suspended by the respective States and UTs.
The figures demonstrate the scale of scrutiny being undertaken by the authorities against healthcare providers participating in AB-PMJAY.
₹328.49 crore penalties imposed
The enforcement action has also involved substantial financial penalties.
The Health Ministry informed Parliament that penalties totalling ₹328.49 crore have been levied for violations of AB-PMJAY scheme guidelines.
The financial penalties are in addition to administrative actions such as suspension and de-empanelment, indicating that violations may attract multiple forms of corrective and punitive action depending on their nature and severity.
29 FIRs registered against violations
The government has also disclosed that 29 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged in connection with violations of AB-PMJAY guidelines.
The registration of FIRs represents the criminal-law component of enforcement where the alleged violations warrant investigation by law-enforcement agencies.
Thus, the action reported by the government encompasses three broad levels—administrative measures against empanelled hospitals, financial penalties and criminal proceedings in cases where FIRs have been registered.
States and UTs responsible for enforcement
The figures provided by Nadda relate to action taken by States and Union Territories, which play a significant role in implementing and monitoring AB-PMJAY at the ground level.
The National Health Authority (NHA), which administers the scheme at the national level, has established mechanisms for monitoring hospitals, claims and beneficiary transactions. States and UTs, through their respective health agencies and authorities, undertake enforcement and corrective action against hospitals based on identified violations.
The parliamentary disclosure therefore provides an indication of the cumulative enforcement action undertaken within the AB-PMJAY ecosystem rather than representing action by a single regulatory authority.
Why hospital empanelment is significant
Under AB-PMJAY, empanelled hospitals are required to comply with scheme conditions governing beneficiary treatment, package rates, documentation, claims and other operational requirements.
Violations can undermine the objective of the scheme, which is intended to provide cashless and accessible secondary and tertiary healthcare to eligible beneficiaries.
The removal or suspension of hospitals from the network is consequently an important safeguard against misuse of public funds and practices that could adversely affect beneficiaries.
Government’s focus on preventing misuse
The figures assume significance because AB-PMJAY involves the financing of healthcare services through public funds on a very large scale. Any manipulation of claims, inappropriate billing, denial of entitled services or other violations can have implications both for beneficiaries and for the financial sustainability of the scheme.
The government’s latest disclosure indicates that enforcement authorities are using de-empanelment, suspension, financial penalties and criminal proceedings as mechanisms to address non-compliance.
The ₹328.49-crore penalty figure, in particular, underscores the financial magnitude of the violations detected by the implementing authorities.
Parliamentary scrutiny of PM-JAY implementation
The disclosure came in response to a parliamentary question seeking information on violations of AB-PMJAY guidelines and action taken against hospitals.
Parliamentary questions provide an important mechanism for assessing implementation of government health programmes and the effectiveness of regulatory and monitoring systems. The latest figures provide a nationwide snapshot of action taken against hospitals participating in the scheme.
The data also highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of empanelled hospitals, particularly as the government seeks to expand access to publicly funded healthcare while ensuring that scheme benefits reach eligible beneficiaries without leakage or misuse.
Enforcement message to empanelled hospitals
The cumulative action—2,359 de-empanelments, 1,200 suspensions, 29 FIRs and ₹328.49 crore in penalties—sends a strong compliance message to hospitals participating in AB-PMJAY.
For empanelled healthcare establishments, adherence to scheme guidelines is not merely an administrative requirement. Violations can result in loss of empanelment, temporary suspension, financial consequences and, where warranted, criminal proceedings.
The government’s response in Parliament therefore places renewed emphasis on accountability among healthcare providers operating under the publicly funded health insurance programme.
Source : Sansad Reply Starred Question No. *287
