Patients protest as pvt dialysis centres to stop services from Aug 31

Srinagar, Aug 27: Dialysis patients across Kashmir on Tuesday protested at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar, appealing to the government to resolve payment issues of private hospitals and diagnostic centres, who have announced to stop services under AB-PMJAY SEHAT Scheme.
On August 23, Jammu and Kashmir Empanelled Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association under AB-PMJAY SEHAT Scheme had announced to stop their services in J&K beyond 31 August due to pending payments with State Health Agency (SHA) from March 2024.
The dialysis and cancer patients in the valley have been in a dilemma and are unsure whether they would be able to do their dialysis or not.
Muhammad Rafiq, a patient said they have come to know that private hospitals and diagnostic centres have decided to stop the dialysis services and they were told that their dialysis would not be done from 01 September under PMJAY SEHAT Scheme.
“We want to convey to the LG Administration that dialysis or CA patients spend huge amounts of money on medicines and dialysis was covered under the scheme when we would not get it done then what is the purpose of the scheme,” he said.
Rafiq has been suffering from the disease for the past three years. “It is very costly in private hospitals to do dialysis without the scheme. Care in Golden Card services is the lifeline for many patients,” he said.
The patients have been told by the private dialysis centres that beyond 31 August they would provide them dialysis services under PMJAY and they have to pay it. The dues from the government were causing financial distress and disruption of services.
Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, another patient, said the government should release the payments to the hospitals. He said there is limited infrastructure in government hospitals which is a reason why patients are compelled to move to the private dialysis centres.
“I am on dialysis from 2017. I started getting the benefits of the golden card facility from 2021. I am poor, where can I go now. I have no source of income, how can I survive,” he said.
The patients said they have been suffering a lot due to the disease and when the dialysis services would be stopped it would affect patients badly.
“There is an alarming increase in cancer and kidney failure patients. The government run dialysis centres cannot accommodate all the patients,” the patients.
The private dialysis centres and hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (AB-PMJAY) haven’t received payments for services for PS-7 Scheme since March 14 due to dispute between State Health Agency and insurance company leaving them to suffer.
Since March 15, 2024, the payments of private hospitals and dialysis centres under Ayushman Bharat Scheme amounting to approximately Rs 300cr haven’t been released, leading to a severe financial strain.
A spokesperson of the association said despite the matter being of utmost public health importance, the payments wrongfully rejected and deducted cases have not been released by IFFCO Tokio, even though SHA J&K has issued orders for the same.
“However, until the funds are released and our suppliers and creditors resume their services, we will only be able to offer services on a cash basis,” they said.
On May 31, 2024, Secretary Health had conveyed a virtual meeting with all private hospitals and dialysis centres of Jammu & Kashmir and they were assured that their money is safe and the matter will be sorted out soon.