Srinagar, Feb 16: Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centers Association on Sunday criticized the removal of UT-specific 10 percent uniform rate enhancement on packages for private hospitals in a new tender and demanded its reversal.
A spokesperson of the association said National Health Agency (NHA) has increased the package rate but it is unfortunate that instead of complying with NHA, Jammu and Kashmir, State Health Agency (SHA) has removed 10 percent uniform rate enhancement for the private hospitals in its new tender.
The association has urged the government to halt the SHA’s tendering process in the larger public interest, calling it an injustice to private hospitals.
A private hospital owner in Srinagar stated that the government had been providing a 10 percent uniform rate enhancement to private hospitals in Union Territories.
“It will severely impact private hospitals. We are already receiving lower rates for packages. This decision should be reversed immediately,” he said.
“The government of India has also increased the Ayushman Bharat scheme’s budget by 24 percent but, unfortunately, the UT government is not increasing the budget. Govt. should increase the budget for PMJAY in Jammu and Kashmir,” the association said.
The association also expressed displeasure over the recent tender notice by SHA, J&K in which four surgical procedures—lap cholecystectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, appendectomy, and fissure in ano—have been reserved for public hospitals barring private hospitals from offering them under ‘Golden Card,’ the insurance coverage mechanism of the PMJAY.
“SEHAT Scheme is a success in Jammu and Kashmir only because of the participation of private hospitals and dialysis centers, otherwise subsidized treatment was already available in public hospitals before implementation of the scheme,” it stated.
The association stated that the Right to Health, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, ensures that patients cannot be restricted to seeking treatment only at public hospitals under this scheme.
The association appealed to Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha; Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakina Itoo to look into the matter.
