Ayushman scheme: Punjab's nod to Rs 100 cr for PGI, govt hospitals

Tribune News Service

Naina Mishra

Chandigarh, August 3

Two days after the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, discontinued the treatment of Punjab patients under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the state Finance Department on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the PGIMER and other government hospitals.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the department had sanctioned the amount for clearing pending dues of the PGIMER and other government hospitals in Chandigarh. “The previous government’s Health Minister had stopped the insurance scheme in December last year. So the dues were pending. We have sanctioned Rs 100 crore today,” he said.

Rs 300 cr approved in principle

The Finance Dept has in principle sanctioned Rs 300 crore, which is pending under the Ayushman scheme. Rs 100 crore will be withdrawn by the Health Dept on Thursday. It will then start releasing the dues to PGI and govt hospitals

Priorities misplaced

The government’s misplaced priorities have spelled trouble for the poor who are not in a position to pay for their healthcare. — Partap Singh Bajwa, CLP leader

It is shocking

It is shocking that patients are being turned away from the PGI and GMCH as the AAP govt has failed to clear the dues. — Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD leader

Principal Health Secretary Ajoy Sharma said, “The funds will be received by the government hospitals of Chandigarh in two or three days. However, it will take some time to settle the amount. We will start paying in proportion so that the scheme can be started.”

Meanwhile, the PGIMER today clarified that the institute had been “constrained” to stop the scheme benefit to beneficiaries from Punjab as the pending claims exceeded Rs 15 crore. “However, the patients from the state can continue to seek treatment at the institute by paying user charges or under other applicable welfare schemes, if so eligible with effect from August 1,” an official statement said.

The institute has also clarified that the decision to halt treatment under the scheme for Punjab patients came into effect after bringing the matter to the notice of the State Health Authority, Punjab, and National Health Authority, repeatedly on April 1, May 13 and June 7. “Later, the matter was even brought to the attention of senior government officers,” said the institute.

“The PGIMER accords patient care top priority and extends poor free treatment in deserving cases. It is reiterated that the PGIMER will continue to extend quality treatment and patient care to each strata of society,” said the official statement.

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