Ayushman scheme: Dues unpaid, PGI halts treatment of Punjab patients

Naina Mishra

Chandigarh, August 2

After the Punjab Government failed to clear dues of seven months amounting to Rs 16 crore under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, a health insurance scheme, the PGI has stopped treatment under the scheme for patients hailing from the state.Every month, the institute sees around 1,200-1,400 patients from Punjab seeking treatment under the insurance scheme. With the PGI halting the treatment due to non-reimbursement of funds and no government hospital in Punjab offering treatment under the scheme, the patients will be at the receiving end. Manjinder Singh from Fazilka district said, “For the past four months, we have been denied treatment under the insurance scheme for my aunt’s knee surgery. The PGI was our hope, but it has stopped treatment now.”