Latest news with #AyushmanBharatPM-JAY
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Private hospitals sceptical of Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana; fear delays, low rates; call it poll-driven by Punjab govt
AMRITSAR: The much-publicised Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, which promises free medical treatment worth up to Rs 10 lakh at government and empanelled private hospitals, has not been well received by private healthcare providers. Drawing from past experiences, many remain sceptical about the scheme's success, especially if the government fails to ensure timely reimbursements or make the programme financially viable. A day after the scheme's launch, The Times of India spoke to a cross-section of private healthcare providers. Many expressed hesitation, stating they are waiting for more clarity before deciding on empanelment. 'There were two earlier schemes that had to be discontinued due to reimbursement delays and unviable rates for most procedures,' said Dr Avtar Singh of Amandeep Medicity. He added that even the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana seems to be following a similar path. Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched the scheme in Chandigarh on Tuesday, promising that every Punjabi family would be entitled to free and cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per year at both government and private hospitals. Citing an example, Dr Avtar said the treatment cost for a fracture was fixed at ₹9,500 — a figure that makes the procedure financially unsustainable. He added that co-payments (the patient's share of treatment costs) were not allowed, further complicating matters. Dr Manik Mahajan of Mahajan Hospital, Batala, said earlier government health schemes offered treatment rates too low for private hospitals to maintain quality care. He noted that in many cases, reimbursements were delayed by over a year. However, he expressed hope that the Punjab government has addressed these issues before rolling out the new scheme. Dr Ravijit Singh of Dr Daljit Singh Eye Hospital said the success of the scheme would depend on the groundwork laid by the government and the quality of support given to both patients and private hospitals. Based on his past experience, he said insurance approvals were often denied or delayed due to inefficiencies by the Third Party Administrator (TPA) — the agency responsible for coordinating between the hospitals and government. Several private hospital owners, speaking anonymously, said they were previously empanelled under similar schemes due to what they described as 'administrative or political pressure', which resulted in financial losses. 'In one such scheme, my hospital lost ₹6 lakh from just six patients,' one owner said, adding that at times, government hospitals referred patients to private hospitals without proper coordination or payment. There is also growing concern among private healthcare stakeholders that the new scheme is being pushed more for political mileage ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections than for genuinely improving public healthcare in the state.
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Human cost of poor-quality testing in India
Ramesh, a 32-year-old construction worker, first visited his local clinic when he was having persistent cough and it refused to go away. For over two months, he had been suffering from coughing, recurring fever, and unexplained weight loss. The classic symptoms that should have raised red flags for tuberculosis (TB). But due to limited infrastructure and inadequate diagnostic support, his condition was misread as simple bronchitis. The technician, lacking proper training and resources, failed to spot early signs of TB. The doctor, relying on this flawed report, prescribed a general course of antibiotics and sent Ramesh home. Two more painful months passed. Ramesh's condition worsened. His cough began producing blood, and severe fatigue left him unable to work. This story reflects a deeper systemic failure of our country. Low-quality diagnostic services, often driven by under-resourced facilities, lack of quality checks, and poor training, lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, worsening health, and higher health care costs. In situations like Ramesh's, the need is not for centralised, high-end laboratories but for accessible, quality-assured diagnostics at the point of care, especially for conditions like respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, sexually transmitted infections (STDs), and chronic diseases like diabetes and kidney dysfunction. Many of these tests do not require the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation. What's crucial is to ensure standardised quality control for every batch of diagnostics and robust supply chains so that tests are accurate, affordable, and always available where they are needed most. Most of the syndrome-based approaches such as fever, STDs where the diagnostic should be available at a point of care with a quality check. The cervical cancer diagnostics should be provided with appropriate quality checks, the same is with glucose levels, HB levels as well as basic diagnostics for lipids, kidney, liver tests. Point-of-care diagnostics for respiratory tract infections and diarrhoeal diseases must be made widely available, given the high mortality associated with these conditions. Just like medicines, every batch of diagnostic kits should undergo stringent quality checks and be supported by robust supply chain and storage systems. Currently, many government hospitals and public health facilities function without NABL accreditation. This underscores the need to build a parallel grassroots-level accreditation system, modeled along the lines of National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), but adapted to rural realities. Such a system would ensure minimum quality benchmarks, especially for programme-related diagnostics and should be integrated into national health schemes including those under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. The lack of structured quality control has allowed an influx of unreliable diagnostic tools in both public and private sectors. Each diagnostic batch, like medicines, must undergo quality verification before deployment. This is especially critical for widespread conditions like cervical cancer, glucose imbalance, anaemia (Hb levels), and liver/kidney dysfunction, where inaccurate results can lead to incorrect treatment or no treatment at all. To ensure sustained quality, regular training and upskilling of lab technicians must be mandated. Training should focus not only on basic test operations but also on ethical diagnostic practices, quality assurance, storage standards, and the correct use of surveillance tools, which should never be substituted for clinical diagnostics. According to the National Health Profile 2023, only 12% of primary health centers (PHCs) have diagnostic labs and many of those do not meet even basic standards. The result is a massive diagnostic gap in rural India, pushing patients toward unregulated, low-quality private labs. The consequences are severe: delayed or missed diagnoses, prolonged disease burden, high out-of-pocket costs, and ultimately, preventable deaths. While decentralised diagnostics are essential, India must also invest in national reference labs to support complex testing and surveillance. Establishing 50 NABL-accredited reference labs, each serving approximately 25 million people, would ensure comprehensive national coverage. These hubs should be equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted digital microscopy, real-time PCR machines, and cloud-based data systems for seamless health care integration. Public-private partnerships can be leveraged to train lab personnel at these reference centers, ensuring they are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. Curriculum should emphasise AI tools, quality protocols, and patient-centric diagnostic delivery. Diagnostics are not just support tools; they are central to effective healthcare delivery. Without timely, accurate testing, even the best clinical decisions can fail. As India aspires toward Universal Health Coverage and a $ 5 trillion economy, strengthening diagnostic services, particularly at the last mile, is not optional. It's an urgent public health imperative. This article is authored NK Ganguly, former director general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ayushman Bharat empowering rural Bihar: Over Rs1000 crore saved in out-of-pocket expenses in just one year
Patna: Bihar is witnessing a healthcare revolution as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) continues to transform the lives of millions across the state, particularly in rural areas. In a significant milestone, the state has helped beneficiaries save over Rs1000 crore in out-of-pocket medical expenses within a single year -- a testament to the scheme's growing reach and effectiveness. Affordable and quality medical care is no longer a distant dream for the rural population of Bihar. Through relentless efforts by the State Health Agency (SHA), the state has achieved 100 per cent coverage of all eligible families under the AB PM-JAY scheme. This has ensured that every entitled household receives the financial protection and medical assistance promised under India's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme. The scope of healthcare delivery has further expanded with the integration of the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a state initiative aimed at widening the ambit of health coverage. This integration not only strengthens the infrastructure but also ensures that even more residents benefit from free and quality healthcare. Currently, over 1100 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme in Bihar, and notably, 50% of these are private hospitals. This balanced participation of both public and private healthcare institutions has significantly enhanced service delivery, reduced waiting times, and brought medical care closer to the people. The State Health Agency has launched a series of special initiatives to ensure seamless and corruption-free implementation. These include digital monitoring, robust grievance redressal mechanisms, regular audits, and on-ground awareness drives. The SHA's commitment is focused on plugging loopholes and ensuring that the real beneficiaries -- the people of Bihar -- are not left behind. Officials believe that such transformative steps under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY are not only improving health outcomes but are also playing a pivotal role in reducing rural distress, preventing medical indebtedness, and empowering families economically and socially. As Bihar sets new benchmarks in public healthcare delivery, the Ayushman Bharat scheme stands out as a shining example of how proactive governance and inclusive policies can change the face of rural healthcare in India.
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
Ayushman Bharat empowering rural Bihar: Over Rs1000 crore saved in out-of-pocket expenses in just one year
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 7 (ANI): Bihar is witnessing a healthcare revolution as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) continues to transform the lives of millions across the state, particularly in rural areas. In a significant milestone, the state has helped beneficiaries save over Rs1000 crore in out-of-pocket medical expenses within a single year -- a testament to the scheme's growing reach and effectiveness. Affordable and quality medical care is no longer a distant dream for the rural population of Bihar. Through relentless efforts by the State Health Agency (SHA), the state has achieved 100% coverage of all eligible families under the AB PM-JAY scheme. This has ensured that every entitled household receives the financial protection and medical assistance promised under India's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme. The scope of healthcare delivery has further expanded with the integration of the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a state initiative aimed at widening the ambit of health coverage. This integration not only strengthens the infrastructure but also ensures that even more residents benefit from free and quality healthcare. Currently, over 1100 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme in Bihar, and notably, 50% of these are private hospitals. This balanced participation of both public and private healthcare institutions has significantly enhanced service delivery, reduced waiting times, and brought medical care closer to the people. The State Health Agency has launched a series of special initiatives to ensure seamless and corruption-free implementation. These include digital monitoring, robust grievance redressal mechanisms, regular audits, and on-ground awareness drives. The SHA's commitment is focused on plugging loopholes and ensuring that the real beneficiaries -- the people of Bihar -- are not left behind. Officials believe that such transformative steps under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY are not only improving health outcomes but are also playing a pivotal role in reducing rural distress, preventing medical indebtedness, and empowering families economically and socially. As Bihar sets new benchmarks in public healthcare delivery, the Ayushman Bharat scheme stands out as a shining example of how proactive governance and inclusive policies can change the face of rural healthcare in India. (ANI)
Economic Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Ayushman Card for Senior Citizens: How 70+ senior citizens can get Rs 5 lakh free medical cover via App
The government is improving healthcare access for senior citizens. Individuals aged 70 and above can now get free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. This is under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card can be obtained through the Ayushman App. Aadhaar is mandatory for enrolment. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who can apply for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY? What is the benefit for senior citizens (70+) under PM-JAY? Popular in Wealth 1. UPS benefits announced for these retired govt employees and their spouses: Know how to claim UPS benefits, deadline to apply How to apply for an Ayushman Vay Vandana Card? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Here are important FAQs on Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY In a major step towards improving healthcare accessibility for senior citizens, the government is now providing the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card through the Ayushman App . Under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), a national public health insurance scheme, the Indian government offers free medical treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh for individuals aged 70 and government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY on September 23, 2018. The scheme, implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA), provides cashless treatment in secondary and tertiary-both public and empanelled private hospitals- across the Bharat Vay Vandana Card for senior citizens above 70 years: How to enroll to get Rs 5 lakh health insuranceRead more at: senior citizens aged 70 or above, regardless of economic status, are eligible for free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under this government is now offering a special provision for senior citizens aged 70 and above, who can now get their Ayushman Vay Vandana Card issued via the Ayushman App or website to avail up to Rs 5 lakh in free medical treatment annually."Senior citizens aged 70 and above can now get their Ayushman Vay Vandana Card through the Ayushman App and access Rs 5 lakh of free treatment. Watch this video to learn how to create an Ayushman Vay Vandana Card and unlock essential healthcare benefits," said the Ministry of Health in a post on social media X (earlier Twitter).Step 1: Download the Ayushman 2: Log in as a beneficiary or 3: Enter the captcha, mobile number, and do 4: Enter OTP and captcha code, and then click 5: Allow access to the device's 6: Enter the beneficiary's data, including state and Aadhaar 7: If no beneficiary is located, proceed with the eKYC process. Give your agreement for 8: Provide a declaration and fill up the appropriate 9: Enter the beneficiary's mobile number and the 10: Fill in the details, including the category and PIN 11: Add family members' information and proceed to 12: Once e-KYC is complete, you will be able to download the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card after The only eligibility criterion is that the individual must be aged 70 years or above, as determined by the age recorded in their Aadhaar card, regardless of economic Aadhaar-based e-KYC is mandatory for the enrolment and issuance of Ayushman cards for eligible senior is the only document needed for enrolment in the AB PMJAY Senior Citizen the beneficiary can apply for the Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen Scheme through our website portal - and the Ayushman App (available for Android on the Google Play Store).
