Lucknow, Dec. 27 -- Uttar Pradesh has been awarded for excellence in payments and grievance redressal under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The honour was conferred on the State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services (SACHIS) at the National Grievance Workshop organised by the National Health Authority, where best performing states were evaluated on speed of claim settlement, transparency and beneficiary support. Officials point out that the award reflects a systemic improvement rather than a one-time achievement. Since July 2025, claim payments under Ayushman Bharat in Uttar Pradesh have nearly doubled, with Rs 2,200 crore disbursed to empanelled hospitals in the current financial year so far, compared to Rs 1,300 crore during the entire 2024-25 fiscal. "Timely payments are critical to keeping hospitals engaged and patients assured of cashless care," said SACHIS CEO Archana Verma. "Under the chief minister's direction, approved claims are being cleared within 30 days, supported by a Rs1,500-crore supplementary budget and a strengthened digital verification system." The impact of faster payments is most visible in the treatment of serious and high-cost illnesses. In 2025-26 so far, Rs 1,370 crore has already been paid for advanced procedures in cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, urology and other specialised fields-surpassing last year's total well before the end of the financial cycle. Cancer care, in particular, has seen a sharp rise. According to SACHIS officials, Rs 449.62 crore has been spent on oncology treatments this year so far, significantly higher than the corresponding period last year. Health administrators say this indicates increased trust among patients and hospitals in the scheme's financial reliability. Uttar Pradesh's recognition also stems from its performance in grievance handling-often considered a weak link in large welfare schemes. Since January 2025, more than 41,500 complaints and service requests have been registered on the Ayushman portal, with over 99 per cent already resolved. At the National Grievance Workshop, attended by representatives from 37 states and union territories, Uttar Pradesh was cited as a model for integrating technology, accountability and turnaround time in public health insurance delivery....