‘Dial 104 in case of treatment denial’
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 3: With private hospitals and dialysis centers halting services under the AB-PMJAY-SEHAT scheme in J&K, causing hardships, the State Health Agency (SHA) announced today that it will ensure, patients receive treatment at nearby public hospitals free of charge.
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In a statement, the SHA urged patients who have been denied treatment at private Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs) to call the toll-free number 104 and register their concerns.
The agency assured dialysis patients not to panic or worry about treatment refusals by private EHCPs under a Golden Card, emphasizing that the Government of J&K guarantees free and timely treatment for all patients under the Golden Card at EHCPs.
“Given the situation, the Government has made every effort to ensure free treatment for patients under the scheme with the support of private EHCPs. The Government of J&K is committed to providing the best health services to all patients and beneficiaries in Jammu & Kashmir,” the SHA stated.
The authorities noted that the Insurance Company IFFCO Tokio discontinued implementing the scheme effective from March 15 of this year, leading to EHCPs not receiving payments for patient treatments under the scheme.
“The High Court has ruled that IFFCO Tokio must implement the scheme, but the company has not yet begun doing so,” the SHA added.
The SHA stressed that the insurance company’s failure to implement the scheme has caused significant hardships for patients but highlighted that the Government has already mobilized its resources to ensure treatment for all.
It is pertinent to mention here that several families held a protest today, urging the authorities to intervene in the matter, stressing their inability to bear the expenses, especially for dialysis, which patients require three times a week.
The authorities reiterated that the Government is committed to the principles of the AB-PMJAY-SEHAT scheme, which aims to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to all. “The health and well-being of citizens remain a top priority,” they said.