Health for all: 4.5 lakh people treated under PMJAY-SEHAT in J&K; LG administration paid Rs 307 crore to hospitals

Srinagar: More than 4.5 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir have been treated for various ailments under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY SEHAT scheme.

The government has paid Rs 307 crore to the health institutions under the scheme.

Launched in December 2020, the SEHAT scheme is emerging as a ray of hope for poor people who couldn’t afford treatment for various ailments. The golden card holders can avail free treatment in the premier hospitals of the union territory empaneled under the scheme.

Data accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that 4.5 lakh people have been treated under the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir till April. For their treatment and medication, the government has paid Rs 307crore to the hospitals empaneled under Ayushman Bharat.

Nearly 250 hospitals including privately run health institutes have been empanelled by the government to provide free treatment to the beneficiaries under the scheme.

So far 68.18 percent (69.85 lakh) of the beneficiaries have got registered under the scheme which makes 76.59 percent of the total families eligible for benefits under the SEHAT scheme.

Of the 69.85 lakh registered beneficiaries, 37.7 lakh people have been issued golden cards in Kashmir. Nearly 32.09 lakh people have been issued golden cards in Jammu.

In Kashmir, Shopian district has the highest percentage of beneficiaries registered. In Shopian, 81.87 percent of the beneficiaries have registered themselves for the SEHAT scheme.

It is followed by Ganderbal (74.64%), Anantnag (72.05%), Kulgam(71.57%),Budgam (67.85%), Pulwama (67.365), Bandipora (66.94%),  Baramulla (65.71%), Srinagar (60.17%) and Kupwara  (55.56%).   

In the Jammu division, the highest percentage of beneficiaries are in Rajouri (81.89%) followed by Samba (79.49 %), Udhampur (79.49%), Ramban (73.69%), Reasi (73.54%), Doda (68.62), Poonch (68.37%), Kathua (68.01%) Kishtwar (64.52%) and Jammu (62.15%).

An official told The Kashmir Monitor that the registration under the scheme is picking pace in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Since January, more than 10 lakh people have been registered under the scheme. Similarly, the number of beneficiaries availing free of cost medical treatment under the scheme is also increasing. Despite the heavy rush of beneficiaries, patients get treatment in less possible time,” he said.

The official said that they are expecting 100 percent coverage of the scheme this year. “There is a constant awareness campaign by the administration through various mediums including TV, radio and print, and social media. The accessibility for the golden cards too have been simplified so that everyone gets it in his or her locality, ” he said.

The scheme covers up to three days of prehospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines. There is no restriction on the family size, age, or gender. All pre-existing conditions are covered from day one.