Apollo Hospitals to join Ayushman Bharat, but only in smaller cities

Apollo Hospitals, the country’s largest chain in the segment, says it will join  the Ayushman Bharat programme in tier-II and tier-III cities.
 
In metropolitan cities, however, it will continue to stay away till the government programme raises the rates for surgery and treatment.
 
The scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, completed its first anniversary last week. Around 4.6 million hospital treatments costing Rs 7,000 crore were done under it in these 12 months.
 
While the scheme is now being implemented in 32 states and Union Territories, large hospital chains have been keeping away. Till