Srinagar, Mar 22: The decision to remove four surgical procedures from the list of treatments covered under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is going to overburden the government hospitals.
The government has removed cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), haemorrhoidectomy (hemorrhoid removal), sphincterotomy (for fissures), and appendectomy (appendix removal from the list of treatments covered in private hospitals under a government healthcare scheme.
Data accessed by The Kashmir Monitor revealed that these procedures have been among the most common treatments provided under the scheme with the majority of these surgeries conducted in private hospitals.
According to official data, a total of 84,907 procedures, including cholecystectomy, haemorrhoidectomy, sphincterotomy, and appendectomy, have been conducted in Jammu and Kashmir under this scheme so far. The cost to the government has amounted to Rs 173.06 crore for these surgeries.
It revealed cholecystectomy has been the most common procedure as more than 79000 gallbladder removal surgeries have been conducted in Jammu and Kashmir under the scheme.
The removal of these surgeries from private hospitals is expected to significantly increase waiting times in government-run healthcare facilities, raising concerns among patients.
“The patients would get timely treatment for these four ailments. Government hospitals already are overburdened and often such surgeries are being delayed given the large number of patients in the queue,” a doctor wishing anonymity said.
He said these four surgical procedures formed the bulk of the total surgeries carried out in private hospitals under the scheme in the region. “Nearly 65 percent of the surgeries under the scheme comprised gallbladder, hemorrhoid, and appendicitis,” the doctor said.
Many patients have expressed their dissatisfaction, highlighting that the empanelment of private hospitals allowed them to access quality care promptly. “The shift to government-run facilities could result in delays and longer waiting periods for those in need of these essential surgeries. The privately run hospitals offered satisfactory services to a patient with utmost preference for cleanliness and hygiene,” said Abdul Ahad Bhat, a patient.
Officials, however, said they are equipping every hospital with the latest infrastructure to ensure the smooth conduct of these procedures.