The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has asked the government to consider extending the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) and its SEHAT scheme to Jammu and Kashmir under the National Health Benefit Package 2022.
Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani issued this direction in response to a plea from Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs) in J&K. The EHCPs, represented by Advocate Mir Sikander, had approached the court, requesting the implementation of the 2022 health package so that J&K residents could receive the same benefits as other citizens of India. They also urged the government to allow certain important surgeries to be performed in empanelled hospitals, rather than restricting them to public hospitals.
The court disposed of the petition at an early stage, directing the government to consider the extension of the National Health Benefit Package as outlined in the Office Memorandum dated April 6, 2022.
The High Court has directed the government to consider amending the request for the selection of an insurance company for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) and its SEHAT scheme in Jammu and Kashmir. This move aims to ensure that J&K residents receive equal benefits under the flagship health scheme, just like other citizens across the country. Additionally, the court has asked the government to include common surgical procedures such as appendectomy, cholecystectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, and fissure in ANO in the health benefit package, as these are crucial for people living below the poverty line who struggle to access proper medical care in public hospitals. Furthermore, the government has been directed to implement the National Health Benefit Package 2022 in strict accordance with the scheme before finalizing the contract with the selected insurance company.
