Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 13: In response to High Court orders directing the administration to utilize funds for the reimbursement of medical claims, and following assurances from the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, private hospitals and dialysis centers across Jammu & Kashmir have decided to resume services under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) starting Saturday.
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The J&K Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association stated that a meeting was convened today by the Secretary of H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, during which the compliance with the court’s directions and the disbursement of payments in the shortest possible time was ensured.
Faizan Mir, President of the Association for Kashmir division, noted that an official meeting was held with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in April 2024, where assurances were given that the matter would be resolved by the first week of May 2024.
“After the failure to release payments, an application was submitted to the Chief Secretary through the CEO of Ayushman Bharat on May 18, requesting the release of funds by May 31, 2024. Otherwise, hospitals would be forced to stop services due to a lack of funds,” Mir explained.
He added that on May 31, the Secretary of H&ME held an online meeting with all private hospitals and dialysis centers in Jammu & Kashmir, where it was assured that the money was secure and the issue would be resolved soon.
Sandeep, President of the Association’s Jammu division, said that letters were submitted to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of various districts, highlighting the shortage of funds and warning of a system collapse if emergency funds under their jurisdiction were not released. However, the funds were never disbursed.
The association recently met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who assured them that the issue would be resolved shortly.
Dr. Masood ul Hassan, General Secretary of the Association, stated: “Based on the Secretary’s assurances that payments will be released as soon as possible, and in the interest of the public, a decision has been made to resume services under the Golden Card starting tomorrow morning.”
It is important to note that the High Court, in its order on August 28, directed the insurance company, IFFCO Tokio, to continue the existing arrangement as per the terms and conditions of the contract, in the interest of the public. However, the company did not comply with the court’s orders.
IFFCO Tokio had unilaterally discontinued the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme on March 15, 2024, which resulted in empanelled healthcare providers not receiving payments for the treatments provided under the scheme.
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