English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Russian
Spanish
Urdu
Srinagar : Youth President of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Conference, Mudasir Karim, has raised serious concern over the reported payment crisis under the Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, saying that prolonged delays in reimbursement could undermine the very purpose of a scheme intended to protect ordinary families from the financial burden of serious illness.
In a post on X, Karim said that according to recent reports, around ₹500 crore in claims are pending with the State Health Agency, placing private hospitals under severe financial pressure. He said the consequences ultimately fall on patients, particularly those dependent on cancer treatment, dialysis, surgeries and other covered healthcare services. Earlier reports in June had also documented concerns from private hospitals and dialysis centres over delayed reimbursements, with the Government subsequently sanctioning ₹175 crore towards pending claims.
Karim said the issue has been building for months and that private healthcare providers had already raised concerns in June and threatened to withdraw from the SEHAT scheme because of mounting dues. He stressed that while any concerns regarding misuse, fraudulent claims or malpractice must be investigated and dealt with strictly wherever established, such concerns should not result in genuine patients and compliant healthcare institutions bearing the consequences.
He called upon the elected Government to intervene immediately and establish a time-bound mechanism to verify and clear all legitimate pending claims. He also sought greater transparency in the reimbursement process, stronger audits and scrutiny to prevent misuse, and effective measures to ensure that eligible beneficiaries continue to receive uninterrupted cashless treatment.
Karim said healthcare is a matter of prime public importance and that a patient’s surgery, dialysis session or cancer treatment cannot be allowed to become collateral damage to an administrative or financial backlog. He urged the Government to treat the SEHAT payment crisis as an urgent healthcare issue and ensure that both patient welfare and financial accountability are protected.
