100 days in, health minister says Delhi's health infra received robust push
Speaking to HIndustan Times on Friday, Singh said over 300,000 Ayushman Bharat insurance cards have been issued so far, with 601 patients already admitted for treatment under the scheme.
Further expanding on the data, Singh said more than 316,000 Ayushman Bharat health insurance cards have been issued since April — 175,060 under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for residents under 70, and 141,174 under the Vaya Vandana Yojana for senior citizens aged above 70.
PM-JAY was launched in Delhi on April 5, followed by the rollout of the Vaya Vandana scheme on April 28. The latter provides health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh annually per family for eligible citizens above the age of 70. The government has also begun automatic card issuance for all beneficiaries in this category. So far, Singh said, 601 patients have received treatment under PM-JAY.
Crackdown on fire safety violations in hospitals
Following a Hindustan Times report highlighting lapses in fire safety clearances at three major government hospitals — Lok Nayak, Ambedkar Nagar and Bhagwan Mahavir — Singh acknowledged the issue and attributed the gaps to administrative neglect by previous governments.
'Lok Nayak is now close to receiving its no objection certificate from the fire department after implementing the necessary changes. Ambedkar Nagar is also being brought up to code,' he said. He added that 10 private hospitals have been denied NOCs due to non-compliance and given 45 days to rectify violations. 'Failure to comply will result in cancellation of their licenses,' he said.
New tenders to ease medicine shortage
On reports of shortages of essential drugs in government hospitals, Singh said inefficiency by previous vendors led to supply disruptions. 'We've cancelled their contracts and initiated a new tendering process. Going forward, half the medicines will be procured centrally, and the rest sourced locally to streamline delivery.'
Diagnostic upgrades across 36 hospitals
To reduce dependency on private centres for costly diagnostics, the government plans to install MRI and CT scan machines across all 36 government hospitals under a public-private partnership model. Singh said the services will be capped at ₹2,500 per scan, with rollout details being finalised.
Inquiry into Delhi Medical Council
On the proposed dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council amid allegations of irregularities, Singh said the matter is under review. 'A report has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor. Meanwhile, Director General of Health Services Dr Rati Makkar will oversee council operations.'
Addressing concerns over rising respiratory infections, Singh said there was no COVID outbreak in the city. 'It's a seasonal viral wave. The infections are mild and self-limiting — there is no cause for panic.'
.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jharkhand renames Atal Mohalla Clinic after Mother Teresa, BJP calls move political appeasement
Ranchi, July 24 (IANS) The Jharkhand government has decided to rename all Atal Mohalla Clinics operating in the state as Mother Teresa Advanced Health Clinics. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday. The Jharkhand cabinet's decision to rename the Atal Mohalla Clinic as the Mother Teresa Advance Health Clinic has ignited a political controversy. The BJP criticizes the move as an insult to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and accuses the ruling JMM-led alliance of trying to appease Christian voters. JMM defends the renaming, emphasizing Mother Teresa's dedication to serving the poor. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Jharkhand cabinet on Thursday approved the renaming of the Atal Mohalla Clinic as the Mother Teresa Advance Health mohalla clinic was originally launched on August 16, 2019, by the then NDA government on the death anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari move has sparked a political slugfest between the ruling JMM-led alliance and the opposition BJP."Atal ji's unwavering resolve secured the rights of Jharkhand's people and gave tribal pride a distinct identity. But the Hemant government, stooping to the lowest level of politics, has ignored his contribution. Can it clarify how this decision will improve healthcare?" Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi told added, "If the government truly wanted to honour Mother Teresa, it could have launched a new scheme in her name to serve patients, which was her life's mission. Instead, it has chosen to serve its political interests."The BJP alleged the move was aimed at wooing the state's Christian voters, seen as supporters of the JMM-led the charge, JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya said, "Mother Teresa is an angelic figure for the poor. Naming a health clinic for the poor in her honour is most appropriate."
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Medical Body IMA Flags Over Rs 1.21 Lakh Crore Unpaid Bills Under Ayushman Bharat
Over 9.84 crore hospital admissions have been approved under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), with payments exceeding Rs 1.40 lakh crore, the government informed parliament on Friday. The scheme, focused on universal health coverage, offers up to Rs 5 lakh annually in cashless hospitalisation to nearly Rs 55 crore economically weaker individuals, covering the bottom 40% of India's population. More than 41 crore Ayushman Cards have been issued, with Uttar Pradesh leading at 5.33 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. Lakshadweep issued the fewest at 36,000. The scheme works through 31,466 hospitals, including over 14,000 private facilities, under Trust, Insurance, or Hybrid models, allowing state-specific flexibility. However, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised serious concerns in a white paper to the National Health Authority (NHA). They highlighted problems such as delayed payments, low reimbursement rates, and complicated claim processes that threaten hospital finances. In Gujarat, Rs 300 crore in claims from 2021 to 2023 remain unpaid. Only 5% of these claims have been settled within the required 15 days. In Kerala, there are Rs 400 crore in pending dues, and nationwide over Rs 1.21 lakh crore in claims (64 lakh cases) are still outstanding, according to an RTI. The IMA also pointed out that package rates are too low and do not cover treatment costs, especially for complex procedures in private tertiary hospitals. "IMA should be invited while deciding rates, packages and we should ensure timely payments, ease of claims and simplfied procedures," IMA national president Dr Dilip Bhanushali told NDTV. Uniform pricing discourages high-quality hospitals, resulting in only 67 of Delhi's 1,000+ private hospitals participating due to operational and financial challenges. Claim rejections caused by technical errors further increase revenue losses. IMA Recommendations: - Automate payments and create real-time tracking for transparency. - Revise reimbursement rates to reflect actual costs, updating them regularly. - Simplify claim documentation and provide 24/7 digital support (e.g., WhatsApp, SMS). - Set up grievance redressal at district, state, and national levels. - Incentivise accredited and rural hospitals with higher payments and faster approvals. - Move to direct benefit transfers using fintech, avoiding third-party intermediaries, to improve efficiency and sustainability. - Encourage competition and address market failures, reducing payor biases and oligopsony effects that threaten small and mid-size providers. Minister Prataprao Jadhav acknowledged implementation challenges in the Rajya Sabha, urging states to adjust models for better efficiency. The IMA's white paper, submitted to the Rajya Sabha Standing Committee on Health, is awaiting a response from the NHA. Doctors warn that without reforms, the scheme's aim of providing free, quality healthcare for India's poorest is at risk.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Ensure sufficient medicine stock for snake and dog bites, Mandya ZP CEO instructs PHCs
Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R. Nandini has asked Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to ensure availability of sufficient stock of medicines for snake and dog bites. During a surprise visit to the PHC at Chandagalu village in Mandya taluk on Friday, Ms. Nandini inspected the medicines available at the hospital used for treating snake and dog bites, and sought details regarding their availability and expiry dates. If timely treatment is provided at the PHC itself, referring the patients to urban hospitals can be avoided, she pointed out. During her visit to the PHC, Ms. Nandini reviewed attendance of the staff, records related to in-patients and out-patients, hospital cleanliness, waste management, and documentation related to Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme. She also spoke to the Asha works present at the hospital and advised them to visit houses in their jurisdiction, and spread awareness about dengue and malaria fever. Ms. Nandini emphasised the need to encourage pregnant women to undergo regular check-ups and ensure timely vaccinations for the children. Meanwhile, medical officer at the PHC Hemanth Raj pointed out that a new building for the PHC had been sanctioned as the current building had become old. As the land on which the present PHC stands was under a legal dispute, an alternate site had been approved for the construction of the PHC, he added. Panchayat Development Officer Vidya and elected Gram Panchayat members of Chandagalu Gram Panchayat were also present on the occasion.
