ADMINISTRATIVE LAPSE
The recent suspension of cardiac procedures at Jammu’s Government Super Speciality Hospital (SSH) is more than an administrative lapse, it is a crisis that has placed human lives at stake.
When authorized suppliers of stents, pacemakers, balloons and other critical devices halted supplies over unpaid dues nearing several crores, the Cath Lab, which handles nearly 25 procedures daily, was forced into complete shutdown.
For a premier cardiac facility operating under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme, this breakdown is both alarming and unacceptable to the people.
A system intended to provide seamless, cashless treatment has instead trapped suppliers in a cycle of delayed reimbursements, despite contractual obligations to clear invoices within 30 days.
While the GMC administration has promised temporary fixes through alternate vendors, such patchwork measures cannot mask the systemic failure. Patients requiring urgent cardiac interventions cannot be left to the mercy of administrative delays and inter-departmental bottlenecks.
Restoring supplies is only the first step. The Government must urgently streamline payments, enforce accountability and ensure uninterrupted delivery of life-saving devices. Healthcare systems cannot function on assurances alone, especially when every delay risks a life.
