Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 13: The J&K Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association today claimed that nearly 60 percent of payments under the Ayushman Bharat–Sehat Scheme remain pending in J&K, alleging that the delay in reimbursements has pushed several private hospitals and dialysis centres into a severe financial crisis.
The association said mounting unpaid dues, running into hundreds of crores, have made the survival of many empanelled healthcare institutions difficult and warned that continued delays could disrupt critical healthcare services across the Union Territory.
Demanding immediate intervention, the association urged the Government to shift the Ayushman Bharat–Sehat Scheme in J&K from the existing Trust Mode to the Insurance Mode, arguing that the present system has failed to ensure timely payments to hospitals.
General Secretary of the Association, Dr Masood-ul-Hassan, said the PS8 period had expired last month, but a majority of payments were still pending.
“Nearly 60 per cent payments are still pending despite the expiry of the PS8 period,” he said.
Association president Mir Faizan said hospitals empanelled under the scheme have been facing acute financial stress as reimbursements remain pending for months and, in some cases, years.
“Under the existing Trust Mode, payments to hospitals remain pending for months to years. Private hospitals have dues running into hundreds of crores, some unpaid since 2021,” he said.
Faizan said the crisis has particularly hit dialysis centres, many of which are struggling to continue operations because of mounting liabilities and delayed payments.
“This has pushed many centres, especially dialysis units, to the brink of closure,” he said.
He added that the Insurance Mode, already adopted in several states, ensures timely reimbursements through professional insurance companies, improves accountability and protects both hospitals and patients from financial uncertainty.
“It also prevents disruption of life-saving services like dialysis, oncology and cardiac care,” Faizan said.
The association appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately shift J&K to the Insurance Mode under the Ayushman Bharat–Sehat Scheme.
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