Dibrugarh: Scores of dialysis-dependent patients, their relatives and residents took part in a protest on the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) road in Dibrugarh on Monday, demanding that the govt reverse its decision to withdraw dialysis coverage under two flagship health insurance schemes from private empanelled hospitals starting July 1.The protesters warned that the abrupt policy shift would push thousands of critically-ill patients towards govt hospitals that are already stretched thin and under-equipped to absorb the additional load.The demonstration was one of the most visible shows of public anger since Assam govt announced the withdrawal of dialysis-related treatment packages from private empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Asom-Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Protesters and patient groups fear that once private hospitals stop providing cashless dialysis from July 1, govt facilities will be overwhelmed, leading to longer waiting periods and denied access for patients who require the procedure multiple times every week to stay alive.“Many poor chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, depending on dialysis, will die because of this decision. We have nowhere else to go. AMCH has just 12 dialysis machines, which is inadequate. Adequate arrangements must be ensured before implementing such a major policy change. Dialysis is not a choice but a necessity for us,” said one patient during the protest.Another protester, a father whose daughter undergoes dialysis three times a week, made a direct appeal to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. “My daughter cannot survive without dialysis. I am requesting CM Sarma to please reconsider this decision and not take away the one support that is keeping our children alive,” he said.The govt has justified the move by pointing to expanded dialysis infrastructure at govt medical colleges and hospitals and the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP). Authorities said the withdrawal of private hospital packages is in line with the state’s strengthened public healthcare capacity.The notification issued by the state’s medical education and research department clarifies that procedures removed from coverage include chronic haemodialysis, acute haemodialysis, permanent tunnelled catheter placement and peritoneal dialysis. The notification clarifies that private hospitals will continue to be reimbursed for patients admitted until June 30, after which the revised provisions take effect.
Residents opposed govt’s decision to withdraw dialysis coverage under two flagship health insurance schemes from private empanelled hospitals starting July 1
