The Jammu & Kashmir’s much-appreciated health insurance scheme (Golden Card), launched in 2020, is losing its sheen day by day. Initially, there was a legal tussle between the government and the insurance company. Now, the issue is about reserving certain surgical procedures to be done only in government hospitals. The PM and LG Administration had received much appreciation for this public welfare health program, but due to various reasons, the Golden Card scheme may not benefit the poor in the months to come.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY), commonly known as the Golden Card scheme, was launched around December 2018 in Jammu & Kashmir. This is a medical insurance scheme meant to benefit only the poor population living under the Below Poverty Line (BPL). By the end of 2020, this scheme was renamed the AB-PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, and its benefits were extended to all 20 lakh families living in J&K. The scheme was formally launched by Prime Minister Modi on December 26, 2020.

What is this scheme all about?

The main focus of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) – SEHAT scheme is protection from catastrophic health expenditures. According to the State Health Agency (SHA), this scheme is delivered through both public and private healthcare providers for providing secondary and tertiary care health services.

How did the problem start?

Bajaj Allianz GIC was the implementing agency for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and AB PM-JAY SEHAT in Jammu & Kashmir until 2022. After the contract ended with Bajaj Allianz, IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company signed the contract with the State Health Agency (SHA) in November 2023. The contract, which came into effect on........

© Kashmir Observer