Paycheck Freeze At Primary Care Frontline: Ayushman Arogya Mandir Staff Left Unpaid For Three Months

Ashik Bothra - Mumbai Bureau May 28, 2026 1,300 Views

At least 1,000 doctors and healthcare workers posted at Delhi’s Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have reportedly not received their salaries for the past three months, even as the centres are touted as the backbone of India’s primary healthcare network. The prolonged delay has sparked anxiety, financial stress and renewed questions over the sustainability of frontline health financing.

Salary Crisis At Delhi’s Ayushman Mandirs

According to reports, doctors, nurses and support staff deployed at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in Delhi have not been paid for three consecutive months, despite working full-time at these government-run primary health facilities. Many contractual workers say they are struggling to meet basic expenses and EMIs, with some resorting to borrowing money to stay afloat. The delay comes even as both the Centre and states highlight Ayushman Arogya Mandirs as a flagship reform in primary care delivery.

Impact On Healthcare Delivery

The non-payment of salaries has begun to affect morale and service continuity, with staff warning that prolonged uncertainty could disrupt essential services like outpatient consultation, immunisation, non-communicable disease screening and basic diagnostics. Public health experts caution that delayed compensation at such a large scale risks undermining trust in the system, especially when Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are positioned as the first point of contact for crores of citizens. Delhi’s network is part of a larger national grid of over 1.6 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs designed to expand free primary care.

Government Response And Structural Issues

Officials have reportedly attributed the backlog to administrative and fund-release bottlenecks, though no clear public timeline has been announced for clearing dues. The episode has reignited debate around contractual hiring, complex payment flows between Centre, state and implementing agencies, and the need for ring-fenced financing for frontline health workers. Unions and staff representatives are demanding automatic, time-bound salary disbursal mechanisms to prevent such crises from recurring.

Key Highlights

Salaries of around 1,000 doctors and healthcare workers at Delhi Ayushman Arogya Mandirs pending for three months
Delayed payments affecting contractual doctors, nurses and support staff across multiple centres
Staff report borrowing money and struggling with daily expenses due to prolonged dues
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are central to India’s plan for universal, free primary healthcare
Experts warn salary delays could disrupt core services and erode staff morale
Authorities cite fund-release and administrative bottlenecks; no firm payment timeline yet