CS Reviews SEHAT, Setsgoal for Efficient, Sustainable Healthcare

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal DullooTuesday chaired the Governing Council Meeting of the State Health Agency (SHA), during which a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and AB PM-JAY SEHAT scheme across Jammu and Kashmir was undertaken.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department; Commissioner Secretary, Planning; Secretary, Information Technology; Director, SKIMS; Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar/Jammu besides other concerned officers.
During the meeting, Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency, Ananth Dwivedi, delivered a detailed presentation highlighting the achievements registered under the scheme, its financial performance during the current policy period and the proposed modalities for ensuring its continued and sustainable implementation across the Union Territory in the months to come.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Secretary highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s progress in universal healthcare coverage through the PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, which has significantly enhanced access to quality, cashless healthcare services for the population. The scheme has particularly benefited economically weaker and vulnerable groups, allowing them to receive specialized treatment at no cost in both public and private healthcare institutions, thus providing substantial economic relief. He emphasized the scheme’s role in protecting households from catastrophic healthcare expenses and underscored the importance of transparency, timely claims settlement, and robust monitoring mechanisms. The Chief Secretary called for ongoing efforts to strengthen public healthcare institutions, improve outreach to beneficiaries, and ensure seamless service delivery under the PM-JAY SEHAT framework. During the current Policy Period-8, from April 17, 2025, to April 16, 2026, over 4.08 lakh pre-authorizations were approved, with a financial outlay of nearly Rs 775 crore. More than 3.86 lakh claims were submitted, indicating extensive utilization of healthcare services. Public sector hospitals played a crucial role, accounting for a significant portion of treatments and financial transactions, with over Rs 515 crore in pre-authorizations approved in these facilities, showcasing their growing capacity to deliver advanced treatments. Looking ahead, the Chief Secretary was briefed on proposed reforms and financial restructuring for the upcoming Policy Period-9, aimed at ensuring the scheme’s long-term sustainability without compromising healthcare quality. The presentation included comparative projections between Insurance Mode and Trust Mode, indicating that under Trust Mode, annual expenditures are expected to remain manageable while providing uninterrupted coverage to eligible beneficiaries. Additionally, changes to the Health Benefit Package were approved to rationalize expenditures and enhance operational efficiency in the next policy cycle, including the optimization of package rates in select specialties while protecting critical healthcare services. The meeting concluded with discussions on future strategies to maintain the achievements of PM-JAY SEHAT, ensuring the scheme remains financially sustainable, efficient, and responsive to the healthcare needs of Jammu and Kashmir’s population.