Following a series of complaints and controversy over the Ayushmann Bharat Scheme, the Punjab Government on Wednesday announced that it has cleared all due payments. The state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that with this, Ayushmann Bharat Scheme would be resumed soon.
After facing the burnt of non-access to cashless treatment under Ayushmann Bharat Scheme, some of the people in Punjab have come up with a solution. The Daily Guardian met a few patients, who managed to take advantage of the scheme and get adequate treatment in Punjab.
Shikha Sehrawat of Moga is one such patient. Speaking to TDG, she said, “My mom Priya Sehrawat was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022. My neighbor suggested me to get an Ayushmann Bharat card in name of my mother but at the address of Punjab. He suggested me to rent a place in Chandigarh, update the Aadhar address, and further register with the Ayushmann card at the address of Chandigarh. This idea worked and now I am accessing free cashless treatment in PGI now”.
Makhan Singh of Firozpur said that he too has opted the same way for his 9-year-old kid, who was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease a month back. “I started living here on rent in sector 42, made my Aadhar and Ayushman Bharat Scheme card here, and now I am accessing cashless treatment in PGIMER.”
Speaking about the situation, a PGI spokesperson said, “Due to the Punjab government’s non-payment of dues, all patients from Punjab coming to PGI Chandigarh will now have to make the prescribed payment on treatment like other regular patients. PGI has taken this big step in view of the stand of the Punjab government. “
The Punjab government has an outstanding balance of Rs 16 crore with PGI. Despite several reminders, no response was received from the Punjab government. When the money was not paid, PGI stopped giving the benefit of the Ayushmann Bharat scheme to patients.
Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director, PGI, said that the State Health Authority, (SHA) Punjab has been requested to clear the pending dues with respect to treatment provided to ABPMJAY beneficiaries from the state. A letter was written to the National Health Authority (NHA), requesting it to intervene in the matter.
The Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, stopped the treatment of patients from Punjab in March this year after depositing Rs 2.3 crore. The Punjab government owes more than Rs 3 crore under this scheme to several private hospitals in Chandigarh.
When the Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Ajoy Sharma, was questioned about the same, he said that the Punjab government has an outstanding amount of Rs 300 crore under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The matter is with the Finance Department. It is expected that the balance amount will be deposited within a week. The treatment will start after that. Hospitals like GMCH-16 and GMCH-32 in Chandigarh will also be paid soon.