India, May 8 -- Patients covered under Swasthya Sathi, the flagship health insurance programme of the previous Mamata Banerjee government, are reportedly being denied admission or turned away by several private hospitals in Kolkata as uncertainty grows over whether the incoming Bharatiya Janata Party government will retain the scheme or replace it with Ayushman Bharat.

The refusals have increased since the change in government became clear following the election result, hospital sources told The Times of India.

Hospitals pause admissions

At least one major hospital chain along EM Bypass has reportedly stopped Swasthya Sathi admissions across all its units, which together treated more than 250 beneficiaries every month.

"We are waiting...