The Nagaland Private Doctors Association (NPDA) has decided to continue offering healthcare services under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) despite prolonged delays in claim payments.
Following a meeting on February 13 with the Nagaland Health Protection Society (NHPS) and the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA), NPDA announced that it would withhold suspending services for now. NHPS assured the association that all pending payments would be cleared within two weeks.
The NPDA stated that public welfare remains a priority. However, it warned that if payments are not released within the promised timeframe, NPDA would be compelled to take legal action to secure the dues.
The association highlighted the financial strain private hospitals are facing due to non-payment of claims by Future Generali Insurance (FGI), the insurance provider for the schemes. Many hospitals are struggling to procure essential medical supplies, including emergency medications, chemotherapy drugs, laboratory reagents, dialysis equipment, and surgical consumables. Additionally, maintaining critical care units such as CCU, ICU, and NICU, as well as ensuring staff salaries and uninterrupted hospital operations, has become increasingly difficult.
NPDA urged the authorities to fulfill their commitments promptly to prevent a healthcare crisis in the state.
Meanwhile, on February 14, the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, directed NPDA to continue providing services under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and CMHIS as an interim measure in the public interest to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services in Nagaland.