Srinagar: In a significant development that brings relief to thousands of patients in Jammu and Kashmir, private hospitals and dialysis centres empanelled under the Sehat scheme have agreed to resume operations from today.
This decision comes after assurances from the authorities regarding the disbursement of pending bills amounting to Rs 160 crore. The announcement marks the end of a service suspension that began on September 2, when these healthcare providers halted their participation in the free health insurance scheme due to payment issues.
The High court had instructed the J&K administration to utilise available funds for reimbursing medical claims.
The meeting was convened by Secretary Health Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah with the private hospitals and dialysis centres of J&K in which he stressed that in compliance with the Hon’ble High Court directions, all our dues will be disbursed in the shortest possible time.
The Hon’ble high court in it’s order AA no 01 of 2024,dated 28/08/2024 had directed the insurance company IFFCO Tokio for the larger public interest, ‘to continue with the existing arrangement as per terms & condition of the contract agreement but they however did not comply with the court orders.
It’s pertinent to mention that The Insurance Company IFFCO Tokio had itself discontinued the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya(ABPMJAY) scheme with effect from 15.03.2024, due to which the Empanelled Health Care Providers are not receiving any payments for the treatments given to the patients under the scheme.
Faizan Mir, President (Kashmir Region) J&K Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association said, “An official meeting regarding this matter was held by the association with the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) in April 2024 who assured that the matter will be solved by the 1st week of May 2024.After the failure of the release of payments an application was submitted to the Chief Secretary through CEO, Ayushman Bharat on 18th may 2024 with a request of release of the funds by 31st of May 2024 otherwise the hospitals will be forced to stop the services due to paucity of the funds”.
Mir further added “On 31st May 2024, Secretary of Health conveyed an online meeting with all private hospitals and dialysis centres of Jammu & Kashmir UT whereby, it was assured that the money is safe and the matter will be sorted out soon”.
Sandeep, President (Jammu region) said, “a letter addressed to the DC’s of various districts were submitted in their offices mentioning the paucity of funds and collapse of the whole system if the emergency funds under their jurisdiction are not released which was however never released”.
Recently the association met the Hon’ble LG last week who assured that the issue will be sorted out soon.
Dr Masood ul Hassan, General Secretary said, “based on the assurances by Secretary Health Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah today that the payment will be released in the shortest possible time and for the benefit of the public at large, a decision was taken to resume the services under golden card from today morning”.
The association is grateful to Hon’ble LG Shri Manoj Sinha,Chief Secretary Mr Atal Dulloo, Secretary H&ME Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, CEO Mr Sanjiv M Gadkar who are working on this issue on priority.
