Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 20: The financial crisis confronting empanelled private healthcare institutions in Jammu & Kashmir under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana continues unabated, with hospitals now reporting that around Rs 275 crore in pending dues remain unpaid despite partial clearance by authorities in recent days.
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The Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association, representing 135 empanelled facilities across the Union Territory, had earlier warned of suspending treatment under the scheme from April 15 due to non-payment of nearly Rs 295 crore. While the State Health Agency (SHA) has reportedly released only 1-2% of the outstanding amount recently, the bulk of payments remain pending, leaving hospitals in severe financial distress.
Hospital authorities stated that they continued to provide critical healthcare services-including surgeries, cardiac interventions, and dialysis-for over a year without receiving timely reimbursements. The prolonged delay has now pushed many institutions to the brink, affecting their operational sustainability.
The situation has been further aggravated by mounting pressure from suppliers of medical equipment and consumables, many of whom had set mid-April as the deadline for clearing dues. With payments still pending, several vendors have either restricted or stopped supplies of essential items such as implants and critical medical equipment, directly impacting patient care.
Healthcare providers have warned that without immediate financial relief, sustaining services under the scheme-popularly known as the “Golden Card” scheme-will become increasingly difficult. A number of hospitals have indicated that they may be compelled to scale down or suspend services if supply chains are not restored soon.
In a written communication submitted on April 6 to SHA CEO Anant Dwivedi, hospital representatives had clearly cautioned that continuation of services beyond April 15 would not be feasible due to depleted inventories and financial strain.
Adding to the burden, hospital representatives cited a sharp rise in the cost of medical supplies-estimated at 18-22%-amid ongoing global geopolitical tensions. This has significantly increased operational expenses at a time when reimbursements remain stalled.
The Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association has further appealed to the authorities to release their pending dues at the earliest so that empanelled institutions can continue to provide uninterrupted healthcare services to patients under the PMJAY SEHAT Scheme.
Meanwhile, attempts by this correspondent to seek official response remained unsuccessful, as none of concerned officials responded to repeated calls and WhatsApp messages.
With dues still largely unsettled, empanelled hospitals across J&K remain under acute financial pressure, raising serious concerns over the continuity of healthcare services for beneficiaries under the flagship scheme.
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