In a significant move to ensure transparency and accountability in public healthcare services, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued show-cause notices to 11 government hospitals for allegedly misusing the Ayushman Bharat Golden Card scheme under AB-PMJAY and SEHAT.The action was initiated by the State Health Agency (SHA) following findings from a tele-calling survey conducted by Paramount Health Services & Insurance TPA Pvt. Ltd., which exposed that several hospitals denied cashless treatment to eligible patients under the Golden Card scheme.
Patients Forced to Pay Despite Eligibility
The survey revealed that patients possessing valid Golden Cards were allegedly forced to pay out-of-pocket for treatments that should have been entirely cashless under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and SEHAT.
Officials noted that this directly violates the guidelines and defeats the very purpose of the scheme, which aims to provide free, accessible healthcare to economically vulnerable populations across Jammu and Kashmir.
List of Hospitals Served with Notices
The hospitals issued notices include some of the top government healthcare institutions in the region:
- SKIMS Soura
- Super Specialty Hospital Srinagar
- SMHS Hospital Srinagar
- JLNM Hospital Srinagar
- SMGS Hospital Jammu
- Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu
- GMC Udhampur
- GMC Rajouri
- Government Children’s Hospital Bemina
- Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar
- SKIMS Medical College, Bemina
Seven-Day Deadline for Response
The State Health Agency has directed these hospitals to submit written explanations within seven days. A senior official stated:
“If the hospitals fail to provide satisfactory responses, they may face penalties, suspension from the scheme, or legal action.”
The SHA has also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the Golden Card scheme’s objectives, ensuring that no eligible citizen is denied free healthcare.
Violations Undermine Public Trust
Officials emphasized that such practices damage the public’s trust in government healthcare schemes and place undue financial burden on already disadvantaged patients.
“The Golden Card is a promise of health security. Violations of this nature will not be tolerated,” a spokesperson from SHA said.
What Is the Golden Card Scheme?
The Ayushman Bharat Golden Card, issued under PMJAY and SEHAT, provides cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. It covers over 1,500 medical and surgical procedures at both public and empanelled private hospitals.
