JnK Hospitals face Rs 275 crore pending dues under Ayushman Bharat scheme
Jammu: Private hospitals operating under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in Jammu and Kashmir are facing a financial crisis, with outstanding dues of approximately ₹275 crore still pending despite recent partial payments released by the authorities.
The Association of Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres, representing 135 listed facilities across the Union Territory, had earlier warned that it would suspend treatment under this scheme starting April 15 due to outstanding payments amounting to approximately ₹295 crore.
According to the DailyExcelsior media news report, a written communication was submitted to SHA CEO Anant Dwivedi on April 6. As per this communication, hospital representatives clearly warned that, due to a shortage of supplies and financial constraints, it would not be possible to continue services after April 15.
Meanwhile, the Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association has urged the authorities to release their pending payments as soon as possible, so that the empanelled institutions can continue providing healthcare services to patients under the PMJAY SEHAT scheme without any interruption.
Due to a significant portion of outstanding dues still unpaid, empanelled hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir are facing severe financial strain; this has raised serious concerns regarding the continuity of healthcare services for the beneficiaries of this flagship scheme.
However, it is reported that the State Health Agency (SHA) has recently released only 1-2% of the outstanding dues. Nevertheless, the majority of payments remain pending, leaving hospitals facing a severe financial crisis.
Meanwhile, the hospital administration stated that for over a year, they have been providing critical healthcare services, including surgeries, cardiac treatments, and dialysis, without receiving timely payment. This prolonged delay has now pushed many institutions to the brink, thereby compromising their operational stability.
The situation has been further exacerbated by mounting pressure from suppliers of medical equipment and consumables; many of these suppliers had set a deadline of mid-April for the settlement of outstanding dues. As payments remain pending, numerous vendors have either curtailed or completely halted the supply of essential items, such as implants and critical medical devices, which is having a direct impact on patient care.
