A group of private hospitals and dialysis centres owners have expressed grave concern over the complete financial breakdown of the State Health Agency (SHA) implementing the Ayushman Bharat / SEHAT Scheme in J&K.
Not only are the payments of private hospitals empanelled under the ABPMJAY / SEHAT Scheme pending for the last 8 months, but even the salaries of the District staff of SHA are pending for the last 4 months.
What is more shocking is that the incentives and TA/DA of the SHA staff are pending since 2022. This clearly shows that there is a severe dearth of funds in the SHA.
A group of private hospital owners said, "After releasing a mere 10-15% of the dues a month back, payments have again been stopped for the reasons best known to the SHA.
If the implementing agency itself cannot pay salaries to its own District staff for 4 months and incentives for 4 years, how can it be expected to pay private hospitals? It seems there is no money left in SHA," said one of the private hospital owners.
Private hospitals are running on loans to provide free treatment to poor patients under SEHAT. We cannot continue to pay our doctors, nurses, and maintain critical services like dialysis without reimbursement.
Private hospital owners appealed to the Hon'ble Lt. Governor and Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education, to intervene immediately. If funds are not released within a week, it will lead to a crisis-like situation in the private hospitals especially dialysis centres
