Sigh Of Relief For The Needy

It is a well known fact that Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY SEHAT Scheme has been providing succour to the ailing lot belonging to marginalized sections across J&K.

The threat issued by the private hospitals and dialysis centres empanelled under the scheme to stop providing services after June in the UT on account of delay in payments had come as a shock for many. However, as per the latest development reported in the local newspapers the aforesaid healthcare institutions have apparently dropped their earlier decision and have indicated that they will continue providing services beyond June 30 following assurances from the Government regarding the release of pending dues. This announcement has come as a big relief for those relying on this noble scheme launched by the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reportedly, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo has sanctioned Rs 175 crore for disbursement among hospitals empanelled under the flagship health insurance scheme. The funds are yet to be credited to the account of the State Health Agency (SHA), after which the payment process to private hospitals will commence. The development comes days after the Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association (JKPHDA) had threatened to withdraw from the scheme from July 1 over pending reimbursements and delays in claim settlements.

What is important in this entire matter is that the government should take timely steps to avoid distasteful situations like the one in which the empanelled hospitals were forced to warn of halting the services under the aforementioned scheme. Unless the scheme is withdrawn, it is the bounden duty of the government to clear the pending dues on a regular basis and it should not leave any scope for ambiguity giving trouble to hospitals as well as the patients looking forward to avail the benefit of this public-friendly scheme.

The people at the helm of affairs should declare in a straightforward manner that the payments will be cleared without any hitch so that such a situation never disturbs the peace of mind of the people who depend on this philanthropic scheme for their healthcare without worrying about treatment costs.

It is pertinent to mention that in the aforesaid case, the private hospitals have maintained that they receive payments about three months later than public hospitals, resulting in critical financial strain.

It is the responsibility of the government to provide adequate funds for running this scheme in J&K without disruptions as many people depend on this facility promised by the government at the time when the charges of treatment have been soaring and marginalized segments of society are struggling to cope with rising inflation and unemployment.