LUCKNOW, Aug. 13 -- A total of 184 private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh have been de-empanelled from the Ayushman Bharat scheme for failing to meet patient safety and treatment quality standards, officials said. Action was taken against hospitals that failed to meet mandatory requirements during inspections. These included obtaining Fire NOCs, following biomedical waste management rules and submitting the required documents. Deputy chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said hospitals had been given repeated opportunities and notifications since March to meet the standards. However, several hospitals failed to fulfil the required conditions within the stipulated time. Action was taken as per the rules, particularly in cases involving patient safety issues such as the absence of a Fire NOC. Patients will no longer be able to avail cashless treatment under the scheme at these hospitals. The action followed a verification process conducted under the new standards. Pathak said the objective of de-empanelment was not to reduce the number of hospitals under the scheme, but to ensure patient safety, transparency and quality treatment. Only hospitals meeting all prescribed standards and safety regulations will remain empanelled. De-empanelled hospitals can apply for re-empanelment if they fulfil all mandatory conditions and submit the required documents. Their applications and systems will then be verified through the prescribed procedure before they can rejoin the scheme....