One of the most people and poor friendly scheme launched by Modi-led government is Ayushman Bharat. This scheme has proved a game changer in health sector. Poor people would die because they couldn’t afford the treatment for their ailments. Under this scheme, one can avail benefits of free hospitalization cover of Rs. 5 laks per annum at any empanelled hospital across India under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, patients don’t need to deposit or pay any money for treatment at empanelled hospitals. This scheme has and is saving lives of people here. In Kashmir there are thousands of patients who suffer kidney ailments and need dialysis once or twice a week. These patients could not do so had this scheme not been launched.
However, while the scheme runs smoothly all over India, here in Jammu and Kashmir, of late, it has been facing some hiccups. Last November, IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company, the insurer for Ayushman Bharat in J&K, informed the SHA authorities of their decision not to renew the contract after its expiry on March 14, 2025. Initially, the scheme was implemented through Bajaj Allianz GIC, whose contract ended in 2022. IFFCO-TOKIO was subsequently brought in but attempted to exit the scheme, citing financial losses. Despite SHA’s requests for them to continue in the interest of patient care, the company refused.
The SHA approached the High Court to stay the exit, but the petition was dismissed on February 2, complicating matters further for both SHA and beneficiaries across the union territory. The government has since approached the division bench to stay the single bench order, making the issue sub-judice. They have urged higher authorities to address the issue and release pending funds promptly. According to officials, 1,500 patients benefit from this scheme daily in J&K.
As the matter lies in the court, the empanelled private hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir have threatened to halt their services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme starting September 1, 2024, due to non-receipt of funds since March this year. They allege that a prolonged legal battle between the government and the insurance company, IFFCO Tokio, has complicated the things and they would not be able to cater to Golden Card patients beyond August 31, 2024, until the payments are released, as their suppliers, who have supported them on credit until now, have categorically denied extending credit beyond this date.
This is a serious issue and demands an immediate response from the J&K administration. The concerned authorities should understand that for thousands of patients, the scheme is the only guarantee of treatment. It concerns peoples’ lives. In entire country and its history, this scheme has been the most people-friendly one and therefore patients from J&K should not be deprived of it because the government and some insurance company are not on the same page. The issue should be resolved forthwith to save lives.
