Jammu, Apr 07: A deepening financial crisis in Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare sector has brought private hospitals and dialysis centres to what they describe as a “breaking point”, with a warning that treatment under the Ayushman Bharat-Sehat Scheme could be suspended from April 15 if long-pending payments are not cleared.
In a strongly worded public appeal, the Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association said dues from the State Health Agency have remained unpaid for months, with some claims dating back to 2021 and a bulk pending since July 2025. The association stated that despite delivering surgeries, cardiac procedures, and dialysis services, hospitals have not received reimbursement.
The financial strain has now begun to affect the supply chain. According to the statement, medical suppliers have issued a final deadline of April 15, after which they may stop providing essential supplies, including life-saving equipment and consumables.
“We have reached a stage where continuing services has become extremely difficult,” the association said, pointing to repeated but unsuccessful attempts to seek intervention from both political authorities and administrative officials.
The warning carries serious implications for patients dependent on the government-backed health insurance scheme, particularly those requiring critical care such as dialysis and cardiac procedures. Hospitals have indicated that treatment under the “Golden Card” may be halted from mid-April if funds are not released and supply lines are disrupted.
Beyond institutional stress, the association also highlighted the human cost of the crisis. Healthcare workers and their families, it said, have endured months of hardship due to unpaid dues. Many struggled to observe recent religious occasions with dignity, even as hospitals continued to operate without interruption.
Despite these challenges, the statement underscored that medical services were never stopped, reflecting what it described as a continued commitment to patient care under difficult circumstances.
However, that commitment now appears increasingly difficult to sustain. “We know the suffering of patients because we see it every day,” the statement read, adding that the sector now seeks public understanding as it faces an uncertain future.
With less than ten days before the supplier deadline, the situation presents a critical test for the administration. Any delay in resolving the payment issue could disrupt healthcare access for thousands across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly among economically vulnerable groups relying on government-funded treatment.
J&K Private Hospitals warn of shutdown under Ayushman Bharat Scheme over unpaid dues
