Delhi sets up State Health Agency to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme across city hospitals
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has established a dedicated State Health Agency (SHA) within the Delhi Secretariat to oversee the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme across city hospitals.
To operationalise the agency, the health department has diverted 28 medical professionals, including doctors and other staff, from various facilities such as the Dengue Control Centre, district health units, and other government hospitals to the SHA which will be responsible for ensuring effective rollout and monitoring of services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the capital.
'The officials will be responsible for facilitation between the empanelled healthcare providers (EHCP) and the National Health Authority. Their tasks include verification and processing claims made by the hospitals for serving patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme,'a health department official said.
Additionally, a grievance management cell would also be institutionalised under the health panel which will be managed by the diverted officials, the official added.
As per the established mechanism, claims are raised using a centralised online portal within 24 hours of patient discharge, submitting relevant documents and clinical notes. The SHA then approves and processes the claim, with payments made to the EHCP within 15 days of authentication.
Meanwhile, as part of this initiative, the government has issued strict directions to all hospitals under its jurisdiction to begin generating Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for every patient visiting Outpatient Departments (OPDs), effective May 1. The ABHA ID is a unique identifier that will allow patients to access digital health services and streamline their medical records under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Additionally, Heads of Institutions have been instructed to compile a Health Professional Registry comprising detailed digital profiles of all doctors and nursing officers employed at their respective hospitals or medical colleges. The deadline for this task has been set for May 11, with a clear directive for strict compliance.
Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening digital health service delivery in Delhi and ensuring that the capital hospitals are fully integrated into the nationwide digital healthcare ecosystem.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Maval MP raises issue of denial of Ayushman Bharat benefits by hospitals with Nadda
Pune: Shiv Sena MP from Maval Shrirang Barne has raised the issue of hospitals denying treatment under the Centre's Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) with Union health minister J P Nadda . During his visit to Delhi on Wednesday, Barne met Nadda and submitted complaints received from citizens who were allegedly refused treatment despite being eligible under the centrally-sponsored health assurance scheme. He informed the minister that although 148 hospitals in Pune district were currently empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, several of them have been turning away patients, undermining the core objective of the scheme launched in 2018. Though the issue had been raised multiple times with the local authorities, the MP decided to take it up directly with the Union health minister as the problem persisted across several regions. The MP said that Nadda took immediate cognizance of the matter and directed his secretary to look into the complaints and take suitable action. "The minister has also assured that strict action will be taken against hospitals denying treatment to eligible patients under the scheme," Barne added. The objective of the scheme is to provide quality and free healthcare services to poor and needy citizens. Last year, the govt also approved inclusion of all senior citizens above the age of 70 under the scheme. The scheme provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, benefiting many from economically weaker citizens across the country. Barne said that denial of treatment not only violated the directives of the central govt but also infringed upon the health rights of senior citizens. As a result, many elderly people in Pune district were unable to access timely and adequate medical care, putting their lives at risk. "Strict legal action should be taken against hospitals not implementing the scheme. Immediate instructions must be issued to all empanelled hospitals in Pune district to mandatorily implement the scheme. Additionally, a monitoring mechanism should be established to ensure that senior citizens receive treatment under this scheme in a smooth and hassle-free manner," he said.
India Gazette
15 hours ago
- India Gazette
Insurance Awareness Day: Experts say it's time to simplify and educate to improve health insurance penetration
By Nikhil Dedha New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): On the occasion of Insurance Awareness Day, several insurance providers and experts in an exclusive conversation with ANI shared their insights on the challenges facing the insurance sector in India, especially in critical segments like health and life insurance. The experts also offered suggestions to bridge the awareness and adoption gap. One of the key challenges highlighted by industry leaders is the low insurance penetration in health and life segments, despite the growing need. Health insurance, in particular, continues to be seen as optional by many, unlike motor insurance which is mandatory. The lack of awareness, limited financial literacy, and cultural mindset that 'I won't fall sick' contribute to low adoption. Additionally, complex terms like 'waiting period' or 'co-pay' confuse first-time buyers, further discouraging them from purchasing policies. Saurabh Vijayvergia, Founder & CEO of CoverSure, pointed out that insurance often fails to feel practical or personal to the customer. He said, 'People may own a policy, but often have little clarity on what it actually covers, how to claim, or whether it even meets their real needs. The challenge isn't just about affordability, it's about whether insurance is designed to genuinely serve and support the buyer. To drive real adoption, we need to reimagine insurance with the customer at its core.' According to Quickinsure, an online insurance comparison portal, while awareness has improved in urban areas, there's still a long way to go in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and rural regions. They highlighted that only about 37 per cent of Indians have any form of health cover. Quickinsure said in a statement, 'Most importantly, product simplification and transparent communication remain critical; we need to make insurance easier to understand and more relevant to people's everyday lives.' It also noted that affordability, lack of trust due to past claim issues, and complex product structures continue to act as barriers. The role of the government in driving insurance awareness was also discussed. While initiatives like IRDAI's Consumer Education Website and Ayushman Bharat are steps in the right direction, experts believe more targeted and localised efforts are required. Vijayvergia of CoverSure suggested that awareness campaigns must be 'hyper-local, involve families, and treat insurance literacy much like a public-health drive.' Quickinsure added that public-private partnerships, school programmes, and NGOs can play a major role in spreading awareness from the ground up. Experts also stressed that the industry needs to address internal inefficiencies before seeking policy changes like GST waivers. A significant concern is that over 30 per cent of health insurance premiums are taken up by distribution and administrative overheads, which do not add direct value for policyholders. Private players also see an opportunity to close the awareness gap through simpler products and better engagement. Quickinsure emphasised simplifying how insurance is explained, using regional languages, relatable examples, and visual formats. They also stressed the importance of post-sale support, particularly during the claims process, to build lasting trust. Overall, industry leaders agree that insurance will only become widely adopted when it is easy to understand, accessible, and designed to fit into real lives. Awareness, affordability, and trust are at the heart of increasing penetration. (ANI)
Mint
17 hours ago
- Mint
Insurance Awareness Day: Experts say its time to simplify and educate to improve health insurance penetration
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): On the occasion of Insurance Awareness Day, several insurance providers and experts in an exclusive conversation with ANI shared their insights on the challenges facing the insurance sector in India, especially in critical segments like health and life insurance. The experts also offered suggestions to bridge the awareness and adoption gap. One of the key challenges highlighted by industry leaders is the low insurance penetration in health and life segments, despite the growing need. Health insurance, in particular, continues to be seen as optional by many, unlike motor insurance which is mandatory. The lack of awareness, limited financial literacy, and cultural mindset that "I won't fall sick" contribute to low adoption. Additionally, complex terms like "waiting period" or "co-pay" confuse first-time buyers, further discouraging them from purchasing policies. Saurabh Vijayvergia, Founder & CEO of CoverSure, pointed out that insurance often fails to feel practical or personal to the customer. He said, "People may own a policy, but often have little clarity on what it actually covers, how to claim, or whether it even meets their real needs. The challenge isn't just about affordability, it's about whether insurance is designed to genuinely serve and support the buyer. To drive real adoption, we need to reimagine insurance with the customer at its core." According to Quickinsure, an online insurance comparison portal, while awareness has improved in urban areas, there's still a long way to go in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and rural regions. They highlighted that only about 37 per cent of Indians have any form of health cover. Quickinsure said in a statement, "Most importantly, product simplification and transparent communication remain critical; we need to make insurance easier to understand and more relevant to people's everyday lives." It also noted that affordability, lack of trust due to past claim issues, and complex product structures continue to act as barriers. The role of the government in driving insurance awareness was also discussed. While initiatives like IRDAI's Consumer Education Website and Ayushman Bharat are steps in the right direction, experts believe more targeted and localised efforts are required. Vijayvergia of CoverSure suggested that awareness campaigns must be "hyper-local, involve families, and treat insurance literacy much like a public-health drive." Quickinsure added that public-private partnerships, school programmes, and NGOs can play a major role in spreading awareness from the ground up. Experts also stressed that the industry needs to address internal inefficiencies before seeking policy changes like GST waivers. A significant concern is that over 30 per cent of health insurance premiums are taken up by distribution and administrative overheads, which do not add direct value for policyholders. Private players also see an opportunity to close the awareness gap through simpler products and better engagement. Quickinsure emphasised simplifying how insurance is explained, using regional languages, relatable examples, and visual formats. They also stressed the importance of post-sale support, particularly during the claims process, to build lasting trust. Overall, industry leaders agree that insurance will only become widely adopted when it is easy to understand, accessible, and designed to fit into real lives. Awareness, affordability, and trust are at the heart of increasing penetration. (ANI)
