Gujarat Nephrologists stage 3 days strike over dialysis rates under PMJAY scheme

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Nephrology Association (GNA) recently staged a three-day strike on Monday disapproving the sudden reduction of dialysis rate under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in government as well as private facilities.

Almost 120 members of the association started their agitation on 14th August and continued it for three days and also threatened to tender mass resignation if their demands were not considered. The doctors have resumed their work today and are awaiting communication from the state government regarding the dialysis rate disparity and other grievances. 

Also Read: Junior doctors in England to stage 4-day strike in August

The agitation started after the Health authorities revised dialysis rates under the PMJAY and reduced it from Rs 2,300 to Rs 1,950, effective from July 11. During the strike, free dialysis services were provided to more than 100 patients on Monday in Ahmedabad.

Dr Jigar Srimali, a representative of the Gujarat Nephrology Association, informed The Indian Express," If the government does not come up with a solution in these three days… as a last resort, all 120 nephrologists will withdraw their names from the PMJAY scheme and mass resign. This would be the first such case when all experts of a field will together resign from the PMJAY scheme."

The protesting nephrologists alleged that they have repeatedly approached the authorities asking them to increase the amount and it was an extremely thoughtless and reckless act to reduce it by 17 per cent without any consultation or prior intimation. “When we asked them for a review, they said we can not do that being a triparty agreement and it will be done after a year. With this rate, it will be impossible to sustain,” the association stated.

Dr Srimali, who is a nephrologist in Ahmedabad informed The Daily that 78 per cent of the dialysis in the state takes place at private dialysis centers as the government do not have the capacity to accommodate all the patients. "While there are a total of 120 nephrologists in GNA, only five are with the government… that too at one centre- the Institute Of Kidney Disease And Research Centre. This also means that out of a total of 272 government dialysis centres, only one has nephrologists," she added.

Considering that 80 per cent of PMJAY dialysis is done in private hospitals, many patients and dialysis technicians in all cities of Gujarat filed a petition with the Collector and Mamlatdar offices. The association questioned, "If PMJAY dialysis is stopped in private hospitals due to the reduced rate, then the government hospital will be able to provide this facility. Besides, there is no nephrologist available in the government hospital except Kidney Hospital Ahmedabad, so how can we take dialysis without a nephrologist?”

However, the Health Department has not yet made any moves to discuss the matter with the protesting doctors. Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Manoj Aggarwal stated that as per the National Health Authority, the average amount given for dialysis in empanelled hospitals under PMJAY in other states of the country is Rs 1,500. “The prevailing rates of dialysis at PMJAY empanelled private hospitals are higher than the average rates provided in other states of the country. The state government has allocated Rs 1,650 per dialysis and Rs 300 round trip fare for the patients, thus a total of Rs 1,950," he added.

As far as the issue of the inconvenience of the patients during the protest is concerned, according to the Gujarat Health Department, the state is equipped to provide dialysis in such situations.  addressed the media and stated," An average of 1 lakh dialysis per month is done at the 272 government dialysis centres in the state. The state government has a well-thought-out plan in place so that not a single patient in the state would suffer while undergoing dialysis. In addition, the state government has started a helpline service — 1800 233 1022 / 9059191905 — for any patient who has difficulty in undergoing dialysis under PMJAY for their complaints and necessary information."

Also Read: JJ Hospital Ophthalmology dept controversy: After Govt Accepts Resignation, VRS of Senior Doctors, Residents call off strike