Kupwara lowest at 65%; Pulwama ahead at 90%
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 28: Despite conducting a number of special drives, coupled with regular follow-ups by the authorities for saturation, over 10 lakh people are yet to be covered under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and AB-PMJAY-Sehat healthcare schemes across Kashmir.
According to details shared by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK), there are a total of 54,44,409 eligible people across Kashmir, of which over 80 percent have been registered for these schemes in the Valley despite the passage of several years since the launch of the schemes.
The details state that as of February 25 this year, 43,90,239 people, out of the total, have been covered under the scheme, leaving out 10,54,170 eligible people across 10 districts of the Kashmir Division.
With regard to the district-wise breakdown, Pulwama has achieved the highest coverage across Kashmir at 90.22 percent, covering 4,36,112 people out of a total of 4,83,395.
Pulwama is followed by Shopian district, which has recorded 88.80 percent coverage, covering 2,48,682 out of 2,20,841 eligible people; Kulgam has covered 85.73 percent of eligible people, covering 3,23,630 out of 3,77,503.
Further details state that Budgam district has ensured 84.67 percent coverage, covering 4,96,374 people out of 5,86,219; Ganderbal has covered 2,06,775 people out of 2,46,987, recording 83.72 percent coverage.
District Anantnag has covered 6,50,876 out of a total of 7,90,657, recording 82.32 percent coverage of the centrally sponsored health schemes.
Similarly, district Bandipora has achieved 80.24 percent coverage of the health scheme, covering 2,62,407 out of a total of 3,27,031; Baramulla 79.79 percent coverage, covering 7,12,034 out of 8,92,416 eligible people in the district.
Lastly, the district of Srinagar has recorded 75.70 percent coverage under the AB-PMJAY and AB-PMJAY-Sehat health schemes, covering 6,17,768 people out of a total of 8,16,084, leaving out over 24 percent of the population in the district.
District Kupwara, as per the details, has the lowest coverage of the schemes across the Kashmir division, recording 68.61 percent coverage by covering 4,63,422 out of a total of 6,75,435 eligible people across the district.
It’s important to highlight that the J&K Government introduced the AB-PMJAY and AB-PMJAY SEHAT Scheme in December 2018 and December 20, 2020, respectively.
Moreover, the Government has also initiated Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the Union Territory, with the objective of offering financial security and medical services accessibility to eligible beneficiaries.
Officials told Excelsior that in order to ensure 100 percent saturation, the necessary directives have been issued to the concerned Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) across Kashmir, asking them to cover those who have been left out.
They noted that time and again, the concerned health authorities in the districts have been asked to speed up; however, despite that, the 100 percent coverage under these health schemes has not been achieved.
“As part of the latest directives, the concerned have been asked to ensure 100 percent saturation by March 15, failing which, necessary action will be taken and their failure will reflect in their service record,” officials said.
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