GUWAHATI: The Assam government’s decision to withdraw dialysis-related treatment packages from private empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and Ayushman Asom-Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AA-MMJAY) has sparked concern among patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), many of whom require dialysis multiple times a week.
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Under the revised arrangement, cashless dialysis services at private empanelled hospitals will be discontinued from July 1, prompting fears among beneficiaries that access to life-saving treatment could become more difficult, particularly for patients from rural and remote areas who rely on nearby private facilities.
The government has justified the move by citing the expansion of healthcare infrastructure and dialysis facilities in government medical college hospitals, along with the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP). Officials maintain that enhanced public healthcare capacity will be able to accommodate patients who were previously availing services at private hospitals under the Ayushman schemes.
Responding to concerns, the official from the Health and Family Welfare Department said to GPlus, “It is a government decision, and government healthcare facilities have also increased. We will soon issue a detailed briefing for the public regarding the matter.”
The move has, however, raised apprehensions among CKD patients and their families, who worry about increased travel distances, longer waiting times and the continuity of regular treatment once the policy comes into effect next month.