HC asks Govt to consider extension of National Health Benefit Package 2022 to J&K
Srinagar, Mar 4: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has directed government to consider the extension of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna-SEHAT in J&K in keeping with the National Health Benefit Package 2022. A Bench of Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani issued the direction in response to a plea by Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs) in J&K.
The EHCPs through Advocate Mir Sikander had approached the court seeking its intervention for implementation of National Health Benefit Package 2022 so that the domiciles of J&K are in a position to equally avail the benefits of the flagship scheme at par with the other citizens of the country. EHCPs had also sought direction to the government to consider the inclusion of certain pivotal surgical procedures to be performed by empanelled hospitals as per National Health Benefit Package 2022 as the procedures were confined to be performed in public hospitals only.
“The instant petition is disposed of at this threshold stage with the direction to the respondents to consider the extension of National Health Package mentioned in the Office Memorandum dated 6th April, 2022/AB-PMJAY Health Benefit Package Master 2022 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the court said while deciding the EHCPs’ plea at the very threshold.
The Court, accordingly, directed the government to consider the amendment to the request for “proposal for selection of Insurance Company” for implementation of Araichman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna-SEHAT in Jammu and Kashmir, so that its domiciles are in a position to equally avail the benefits of the flagship scheme at par with the other citizens of the country.
The Court also directed the government to consider the inclusion of the surgical procedures, Appendectomy, Cholecystectomy, Hemorrhoidectomy, Fissure in ANO, as per the Office Memorandum dated April 6, 2022, in the request for proposal for selection of Insurance Company for implementation of AB-PMJAY and AB-PMJAY-SEHAT in J&K through empanelled petitioners saying the same constitute the most common surgical procedures needed by common citizens living below poverty line who are not in a position to avail said services properly in the public hospitals. The court also directed the government to consider the implementation of the National Health Benefit Package 2022 strictly as per government scheme before the award of contract to the selected insurance company.
