Puneet Mahajan meets CEO Ayushman Bharat J&K, raises key patient-centric operational issues

JAMMU: Puneet Mahajan, Convener, BJP Health and Medical Cell, Jammu & Kashmir, today met Ananth Dwivedi (IAS), Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency (Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana), J&K, at Jammu and submitted a detailed representation highlighting several critical operational issues affecting patients and healthcare institutions under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the Union Territory.

The Convener was accompanied by Co-Convener Dr. Varinder Sharma. During the interaction, Puneet Mahajan apprised the CEO of practical challenges being faced on the ground, which are causing avoidable hardship to beneficiaries, particularly those seeking urgent and emergency medical care.

One of the major concerns raised pertained to the deactivation of Ayushman Golden Cards in emergency cases. It was highlighted that although newly issued Ayushman cards reflect as active in the system, many patients arriving at hospitals—especially in emergency situations—are found to have their cards deactivated at the time of registration. This technical anomaly often leads to unnecessary delays in treatment at a time when every minute is crucial, thereby putting patients’ lives at risk.

To resolve this issue, Puneet Mahajan urged the authorities to provide authorized access for on-the-spot reactivation of Ayushman Golden Cards at Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, or alternatively, to establish a dedicated 24×7 Ayushman Bharat facilitation counter within the hospital premises. He further emphasized that similar arrangements should be extended to other major tertiary care hospitals across Jammu & Kashmir, especially considering emergencies occurring during holidays, nights, and after regular office hours.

Another important issue highlighted in the representation was the non-consideration and inconsistent implementation of the alcoholic treatment package under Ayushman Bharat, despite its availability in the approved package list. Due to the absence of clear operational instructions and uniform interpretation at the hospital level, eligible patients are often denied benefits, leading to confusion among healthcare providers and beneficiaries alike. Mahajan strongly requested the issuance of clear, written operational guidelines to ensure uniform implementation of this package across all empanelled hospitals in the Union Territory.

Puneet Mahajan expressed confidence that the CEO’s office would take a sympathetic, proactive, and patient-centric approach towards the issues raised and initiate timely corrective measures in the larger public interest. He reiterated that Ayushman Bharat is a landmark healthcare initiative of the Government of India, aimed at providing quality healthcare access to the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society, and that addressing these operational gaps would significantly enhance its effectiveness at the grassroots level in Jammu & Kashmir.