Unpaid Dues Force Ayushman Shutdown: Association
Srinagar, Jun 28: Private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir will suspend dialysis, chemotherapy, surgeries, ICU care and all other treatments under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)/SEHAT scheme from July 1, citing non-payment of dues by government for the past three years.
The Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association said the decision had been taken with “a heavy heart” after exhausting all available options to continue providing services despite mounting financial losses.
The association said it had continued treating patients under the Ayushman Bharat/SEHAT scheme without charging beneficiaries, trusting that the government would clear the pending payments in time.
“We have treated your mothers, fathers, children and elders without taking a single rupee from you. We believed the government’s assurance that hospitals would be paid on time. Unfortunately, that promise remains unfulfilled,” the association said.
President of the Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association (Jammu region), Sandeep Mengi, said crores of rupees remain unpaid, leaving private hospitals in severe financial distress.
He said hospitals have been forced to borrow money, delay staff salaries and struggle to procure essential medical supplies.
According to him, many hospitals are facing shortages of dialysis consumables, cancer medicines, surgical materials and oxygen supplies after vendors stopped extending credit due to unpaid bills.
“We knocked on every door. We raised the issue with all concerned quarters. Every time we were assured that the payments would be released soon. However, beyond repeated assurances, no concrete action has been taken,” Mengi said.
The association said hospitals have now reached a stage where continuing treatment without essential medicines and medical supplies would compromise patient safety.
“A doctor without medicines is helpless, and a hospital without supplies is merely a building. We cannot risk patients’ lives by pretending we can continue treatment when critical resources have been exhausted,” it said.
The association urged patients who are undergoing regular dialysis or chemotherapy under the Ayushman Bharat/SEHAT scheme to contact their respective hospitals immediately and make necessary arrangements instead of waiting until June 30.
Appealing for public support, the association said doctors, nurses and healthcare workers were not responsible for the present situation and had been compelled to take the difficult decision.
It also urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to appeal to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to ensure immediate release of the pending funds.
“We do not want to stop treating patients. We took an oath to serve humanity. Releasing the pending payments will enable hospitals to procure medicines and continue providing life-saving treatment. We hope the government acts without further delay,” the association said.
The association warned that unless the outstanding payments are cleared immediately, all Ayushman Bharat/SEHAT services in private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir will remain suspended from July 1, affecting thousands of patients dependent on the scheme for critical healthcare.
