Srinagar, Jun 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association (JKPHDA) has deferred its proposed suspension of services by two weeks after the government assured that pending dues to private hospitals empanelled with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY)/SEHAT Scheme would be released starting Tuesday.
The decision came following a meeting convened by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), State Health Agency/ABPMJAY/SEHAT Scheme, attended by stakeholders of the private hospitals and dialysis centres association to discuss long-pending payment issues.
The CEO confirmed that pending payments to empanelled hospitals will start getting disbursed from Tuesday.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr Masood ul Hassan, General Secretary JKPHDA, said, “We are not here to fight. We are here to treat. We thank the CEO for his patient hearing and swift assurance. Our hospitals were on the verge of collapse due to 6 months of unpaid dues. The CEO’s commitment to release funds gives us hope. In the interest of poor patients of J&K, we are deferring our strike by two weeks.”
“We will closely watch the disbursement over the next 14 days. Our dialysis and cancer patients can’t wait. If the assurances translate into action on the ground, we will continue services without disruption. If not, we will be forced to review our decision,” Dr Hassan added.
The Association confirmed that dialysis, chemotherapy, surgeries, and all other Ayushman Bharat/SEHAT scheme services will continue normally in private hospitals across J&K, and patients are advised to visit their hospitals as per schedule.
On Sunday, the JKPHDA had called for a strike from July 1, citing non-payment of dues by the government for the past three years. The Association has thanked the Chief Minister, Health Minister, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of Health for intervening and facilitating Tuesday’s meeting.
On the directions of Faizan Mir (President, Kashmir region) and Sandeep Mengi (President, Jammu region), the JKPHDA delegation was led by Dr Masood ul Hassan, along with Executive Members Dr Ibrahim Guru, Mr Sajad Lone, Dr Mushtaq Purzgar, Dr Nazira, and Dr Bilal.
