Srinagar, Mar 25: Private healthcare providers across Jammu and Kashmir say they are on the brink of collapse as payments worth nearly ₹240 crore under the Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) scheme remain pending, crippling services and threatening patient care.
Payments to private hospitals and dialysis centres have been delayed since the State Health Agency (SHA) shifted to “trust mode” earlier this year, triggering severe financial strain across the sector.
Sandeep Mengi, President of the J&K Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association, said the scheme is no longer functioning as per guidelines.
“It is with deep concern that we state PMJAY in J&K is not proceeding as intended. Payments are delayed by almost a year, with dues running into hundreds of crores. Despite this, we continue services on goodwill, maintaining a 98.8% case acceptance rate,” he said, urging an audit of payment timelines and immediate corrective measures.
On April 17, 2025, SHA J&K adopted Policy PS-8 under AB-PMJAY and SEHAT, ending its tie-up with a private insurance firm and shifting to a trust-based model. However, the association says the transition has led to an “unprecedented crisis.”
“Since April 17, only less than 30% of payments have been released. We are also burdened with pending dues from earlier policy phases, along with what we term as unjustified deductions and rejections,” the association said.
Despite repeated assurances from authorities, mounting dues over the past two years have left hospitals struggling to stay operational.
“We are unable to pay vendors, who are now threatening to halt supplies of essential consumables. The government has failed to honour payment timelines, putting the entire scheme at risk,” Mengi said.
He added that if funds are inadequate, the government should acknowledge it publicly instead of “crippling healthcare providers through delays.”
The situation has been further compounded by a recent decision of the SHA to restrict four surgical procedures to public hospitals since March 15, 2025, citing misuse in private facilities. The move, providers say, has adversely impacted Below Poverty Line patients, forcing them to endure long waiting periods or incur higher costs.
Jammu and Kashmir, one of the few regions with 100% population coverage under Ayushman Bharat, now faces a critical test in sustaining the scheme.
The association has urged the government to immediately clear pending dues and ensure the continuity of healthcare services, warning that the crisis is no longer financial alone—but one that directly impacts patient lives.
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