Vendors supplying critical cardiac-care consumables and implants have stopped servicing Government Super Speciality Hospital (GSSH), in Jammu, claiming unpaid dues amounting to several crores of rupees. As a result, the hospital has suspended all cardiac procedures and interventions, a move that has jeopardized ongoing and pending treatment for patients requiring heart services. The matter has now drawn the attention of the High Court.
The supply halt includes essential items such as cardiac implants, stents, pacemaker-related consumables, and other life-saving cardiac-care devices.
Sources indicate that the hospital owed vendors “30 crores” in unpaid invoices under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for supplies already delivered. When the hospital failed to settle these bills, vendors exercised their contractual rights and stopped providing further supplies. The withholding of materials escalated rapidly and left the hospital unable to conduct cardiac procedures, affecting both elective and emergency cases from Monday.
On the day the supply disruption began, cardiac surgeries and interventions were immediately suspended. Patients scheduled for stent placements, pacemaker implants, and other critical procedures reportedly had to be deferred or referred elsewhere, until supply can be restored.
The regional High Court has “taken note” of the crisis, commuting a strong concern over the potential impact on patient safety and continuity of care. Court authorities reportedly issued a notice to the hospital administration seeking a detailed explanation of how and why the dues remained unsettled and demanded a plan to restore cardiac services promptly, by arranging supplies from other vendors.
For patients requiring cardiac care, the supply halt introduces multiple risks and uncertainties:
Treatment delays: Critical procedures like stent placement, pacemaker insertion, and angioplasties may be postponed, which, in cases of severe cardiac disease, can significantly worsen outcomes.
Referral burdens: Patients may need to be transferred to other hospitals, incurring extra cost, time, and logistical challenges.
Supply volatility: The crisis reveals how vulnerable patient care is when systems depend heavily on external vendors and fixed supply-chain relationships.
Healthcare experts suggest that hospitals maintain emergency backup inventories, establish clear payment and supply-chain protocols, and ensure financial transparency to prevent such crises from compromising patient care.
The decision by vendors to halt cardiac supplies at a Jammu super-specialty hospital, over unpaid due has precipitated a medical crisis, halting vital cardiac services and endangering patient care. As the High Court intervenes, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how fragile healthcare delivery can become when financial, administrative, and supply-chain issues are not managed proactively.
(Rh/TL)
