Srinagar, February 03: Prime Minister Narendra Modi few weeks back launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme via video-conferencing to extend health insurance coverage to all residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister’s Office said the scheme will ensure universal health coverage, and focus on providing financial risk protection and ensuring quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities.
But in a great disappointment the private hospitals in Kashmir are not taking this health insurance with reference to the maternity cases they receive .
Concerned voices are saying that maternity cases in Kashmir are in huge numbers and they not being honoured on Government health insurance card is putting them to great perils .
Many delegations in recent days who visited Kashmir Media Watch expressed dismay over the fact that important medical genre like maternity cases is left without catering under Government health insurance schemes or known as AYUSH cards .
They made it clear that in case of both normal or ceasearain deliveries masses in Kashmir in huge numbers depend on private hospitals for maternity needs . These cases not covered by the Private hospitals puts great financial burden on masses .
When contacted surprisingly and to utter shock Director Health Sameer Matto expressed ignorance over the same and refused to comment .
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, when contacted by the Kashmir Media Watch assured that matter will be taken seriously and looked into soon.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi also assured to take the issue with relevant health authorities , when Kashmir media watch contacted him.
These developments come at a time when maternity healthcare is already in great struggle in Jammu and Kashmir.
Masses are hoping that burning health need like maternity cases which are in regular tandem occuring in nook and corner of Kashmir would be taken by the private sector hospitals of Kashmir.
