Srinagar, Sept. 21 -- Disruption of healthcare services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Jammu and Kashmir has exposed the fragility of a system that was meant to guarantee universal access. A payment backlog of Rs 650 crore has left hospitals and suppliers unable to function, forcing patients to bear costs that the scheme was designed to eliminate. This is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring cycle of delays, unresolved claims and broken supply chains that have repeatedly stalled critical services.

The balance between financial management and service delivery has tilted dangerously. Hospitals cannot continue to provide care without timely reimbursements, and suppliers cannot extend credit indefinitely. When claims remain ...