Srinagar: Empanelled
hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir have warned that they may suspend treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB-PMJAY)-Sehat Scheme from April 15, citing pending payments of Rs. 295 crore to 135 empanelled health centres. Also Read:Ayushman Bharat Records Over 11.69 Crore Hospital Admissions, Says MoS HealthAccording to the Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association, the amount has remained unpaid for
more than a year. Despite the delay, the hospitals have
continued to treat patients under the scheme, offering services such as
surgeries, cardiac treatments, and dialysis. They stated that their decision
to stop services stems from the Jammu and Kashmir government’s failure to clear
the long-pending dues.
The hospitals further explained
that suppliers of essential medical equipment and other materials have set a
deadline of April 15; beyond this date, supplies may be halted due to the
non-payment of bills. Expressing their inability to continue providing services
in the absence of funds, these suppliers warned that treatment under the
“Golden Card” scheme could be suspended starting April 15—a
suspension that would remain in effect until the outstanding dues are cleared
and the supply chain is restored, reports the Daily.
One of the hospital
owners told ETV Bharat, “Due to the long-pending non-payment of dues, our
vendors have stopped supplying essential medical materials, implants, and
equipment. This has severely impacted our operational capacity, rendering us
completely unable to provide necessary healthcare services to patients.” Citing the surge in the
prices of medical supplies—attributed to the ongoing conflict involving Iran,
the U.S., and Israel—they noted that costs have risen by approximately 18–22%.
This has further exacerbated their financial burden and heightened the urgency
for timely payments. Another hospital owner remarked, “The delays in
payments, combined with this sudden spike in prices, have made the procurement
of supplies even more difficult.”
In a message addressed to
Anant Dwivedi, CEO of the State Health Agency (SHA) for Jammu and Kashmir, the
hospital owners formally informed him that they would discontinue their
services if their outstanding dues were not cleared. In a letter addressed to
the CEO, the Association stated, “We regret to inform you that, due to the
depletion of medical supplies, we will be unable to continue providing
treatment under this scheme after April 15.”
According to The Daily, the association has
stated that if the State Health Agency provides them with the necessary medical
supplies and implants, they will continue to render their services to ensure
that patient care remains uninterrupted. According to the SHA, there are 8.5
million registered Ayushman cardholders in Jammu and Kashmir who avail the
benefits of this scheme, while the total number of beneficiaries is reported to
be 10,104,488. The SHA further notes that out of the 1.3 million claims
submitted, 82 per cent have already been settled.Also Read:J&K Private Hospitals threaten to exit Ayushman Bharat Scheme over surgery reservation proposalMedical
Dialogues had previously reported that private hospitals and dialysis centres across Jammu
and Kashmir announced their decision to withdraw from the AB-PMJAY-Sehat
scheme last year. This move came in response to several contentious
decisions made during the 9th Governing Council Meeting, which private
healthcare providers believe could have severe repercussions for the sector.Â