Srinagar, May 19: Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association (JKPHDA) on Tuesday said that the dialysis centres across J&K are facing an unprecedented crisis and are on the verge of shutting down due to massive pending payments under the Ayushman Bharat–Sehat Scheme.
Dr Masood ul Hassan, General Secretary of JKPHDA said that hundreds of crores in legitimate dues have remained unpaid by State Health Agency (SHA) for years, with some bills pending since 2021.
“Due to this financial chokehold, centres are now unable to purchase essential dialysis consumables like dialyzers, tubing sets, and medicines. In many units, there is no money left even to pay salaries to doctors, technicians, and nursing staff,” he said.
He further said, “Dialysis is a life-saving service. A single missed session can be fatal for a kidney patient. Yet, private dialysis centres that handle over 70% of Golden Card patients are being forced to choose between buying consumables or paying staff. Both options are no longer possible”.
Dr Hassan said the current trust mode of implementation has completely failed in J&K.
“Unlike insurance mode, there is no accountability or fixed timeline for payments. Vendors have stopped supplies due to unpaid bills, and trained staff are resigning. If funds are not released immediately, we will have no choice but to suspend services,” he stated.
Dr Hassan said their staff have worked without salaries for months to keep patients alive. “We cannot continue without basic funds. The Government must act now”.
The JKPHDA appealed Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister for their urgent intervention. “Thousands of poor dialysis patients will be left with no access to care if these centres collapse. Release of full pending dues and a shift to Insurance Mode is the only way to prevent a humanitarian crisis,” it stated.