Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 7

Private hospitals and dialysis centres in Jammu and Kashmir have warned they may suspend services under a government-backed health insurance program from April 15, citing months of unpaid dues and shortages of medical supplies.

Facilities empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat-Sehat Scheme said payments from the State Health Agency, Jammu and Kashmir have been delayed for months, with some claims pending since 2025 and, in certain cases, as far back as 2021.

A representative of the Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association said healthcare providers are nearing a “breaking point” after continuing to deliver treatments such as surgeries, cardiac procedures and dialysis despite financial strain.

Suppliers have set an April 15 deadline to halt delivery of essential medical consumables, implants and equipment due to unpaid bills, the association said.

“We have knocked on every door from politicians to bureaucrats but no one has come forward to resolve this crisis,” the representative said.

Hospitals warned they would be forced to stop offering treatment under the scheme, commonly known as the “Golden Card,” if dues are not cleared and supply chains restored.

Despite mounting financial pressure, providers said they had continued services without interruption in recent months, even as staff faced hardship.

In a letter to authorities, the association said delayed payments had crippled their ability to procure essential supplies, leaving them unable to sustain operations.

They also cited rising costs of medical supplies, attributing increases of up to 22 percent to global geopolitical tensions, which have further strained finances.

The association urged the government to release pending payments immediately to prevent disruption in patient care, adding that hospitals remain willing to continue services if the issues are addressed.