51 Bhopal Private Hospitals Risk Losing Ayushman Empanelment Over NABH Accreditation

Fifty-one private hospitals in Bhopal risk losing their empanelment under the Madhya Pradesh Ayushman Bharat Niramayam (MP-ABN) scheme due to lack of full NABH accreditation. The hospitals have been operating since mid-2024 and were issued a final notice in March 2026 to complete the accreditation process.

Bhopal has 213 private hospitals, representing 26% of the state's private hospital network. The city has a significantly higher concentration of private hospitals compared to other major cities in Madhya Pradesh—Indore has 100, Jabalpur has fewer—and other state capitals. MP-ABN CEO Dr Arvind Shah stated that these hospitals had already received two extensions but failed to apply for renewal.

According to the MP-ABN data, 813 private hospitals are empanelled across Madhya Pradesh. Among four major cities in the state, 51 in Bhopal lack full accreditation, compared with 30 in Indore, 12 in Jabalpur, and 33 in Gwalior. Hospitals cannot renew entry-level accreditation once it expires and must instead apply for full NABH certification.