SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated a major financial reform under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and SEHAT Scheme by directing all empanelled government hospitals to remit unutilised insurance funds to the State Health Agency (SHA) while ordering a comprehensive audit of the schemes covering the last two financial years.
Under the official directions, all government hospitals empanelled under SEHAT and AB PM-JAY have been instructed to transfer the unspent balance lying in their dedicated scheme accounts to the State Health Agency. The move is aimed at enhancing financial transparency, strengthening accountability and ensuring the optimal utilisation of public funds under the flagship health insurance programme.
The Government has also ordered a detailed financial and administrative audit of the implementation of the schemes over the previous two financial years. The review will examine fund utilisation, insurance claims, hospital revenues, expenditure patterns and compliance with operational guidelines to assess the overall performance of the programme.
Officials said the exercise is intended to improve governance, identify deficiencies in financial management and ensure efficient utilisation of public resources. The audit is also expected to recommend corrective measures to strengthen the implementation of the health insurance schemes across government healthcare institutions.
Meanwhile, the Government is reviewing the existing revenue-sharing mechanism for empanelled public hospitals. A revised policy is under consideration to establish a more transparent and sustainable financial framework that would strengthen hospital finances while improving healthcare delivery across Jammu and Kashmir.
Implemented in convergence with Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the SEHAT Scheme provides cashless health insurance benefits to eligible residents through a network of empanelled government and private hospitals. Officials said the latest measures are expected to reinforce financial discipline, improve fund management and enhance the overall implementation of the flagship healthcare programme across the Union Territory.
