Govt has agreed to revise PMJAY dialysis rates: Nephrology body

The association members met with health department functionaries, including Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel and health commissioner Shahmeena Hussain, among others.

“The opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also progressing at a fast pace,” President Murmu said. (Express File Photo)

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In a big boost, the Gujarat Nephrology Association (GNA), which had launched a three-day strike on August 14 against the disparity of dialysis rates under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), on Tuesday announced it had fruitful talks with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Health Minister Rushikesh Patel. The state government has assured that they are agreeable to a rate revision, the association asserted.

The association, comprising non-government practitioners, had closed dialysis services under PMJAY from August 14 to 16 to protest against, among other issues, the reduced rate of dialysis — from Rs 2,300 to Rs 1,950 — under the government scheme.

The new rate has been effective since July 11. The GNA had sought that the charges be kept to around Rs 2,200, including Rs 1,500 for dialysis and Rs 700 for the medicine and injection package, as prescribed by the National Health Authority and on par with other states.

The association members met with health department functionaries, including Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel and health commissioner Shahmeena Hussain, among others.

GNA representative Dr. Jigar Shrimali told The Indian Express, “The government has agreed to revise the rates to Rs 2,200 from the present Rs 1,950. Given that these are tripartite agreements between the government, insurance companies, and medical practitioners/establishments, we are expecting that due process and implementation will take time, and we understand that. We haven’t been informed of any deadline or timeline by when the rate revision will be implemented, and until then the rates will continue at Rs 1,950, but the fact the government heard us and addressed our concerns is encouraging.”

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