AMN/ WEB DESK
Jammu and Kashmir government has reserved four key surgical procedures exclusively for public hospitals, aiming to enhance transparency, reduce unnecessary medical interventions and curb malpractice under the Ayushman Bharat/PM-JAY scheme. Responding to a query raised by MLA Tanvir Sadiq, the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo informed the Assembly that the government has decided to reserve cholecystectomy, laparoscopic hemorrhoidectomy, appendectomy and fissure-in-ano surgeries for public sector hospitals only. This decision follows an Anti-Fraud Advisory No. 17, dated 29 June 2020, issued by the National Health Authority, which flagged instances of fraudulent and unnecessary procedures being carried out in private hospitals. The Minister said that by restricting these surgeries to public hospitals, the Government aims to ensure ethical medical practices and quality treatment and safeguard beneficiaries from exploitation. She said this move is in line with similar best practices adopted across various States and Union Territories and further strengthens patient safety protocols. Public hospitals in J&K have already demonstrated their capacity, having successfully delivered 55% of total treatments under the PM-JAY scheme, including numerous surgical interventions, Itoo said, adding that this performance affirms their ability to manage the newly reserved procedures, ensuring that patients continue to receive safe and quality care without risk of overtreatment.