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Time of India
3 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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)
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Dr. Mercy Mwangangi Takes Office as State Health Agency (SHA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Ouma Oluga Calls for Excellence in Service Delivery
Dr. Mercy Mwangangi has officially assumed office as the Chief Executive Officer of the State Health Agency (SHA), succeeding Dr. Robert Ingasira, who served in an acting capacity. The handover ceremony was officiated by the State Department for Medical Services Principal Secretary, Dr. Ouma Oluga. Dr. Oluga urged the agency to provide a strong framework that advances improved health outcomes, including the right to health and Universal Health Coverage. He also emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of discipline, hard work, and prioritizing exemplary service delivery. The Principal Secretary pledged full support to SHA to ensure the successful implementation of Universal Health Coverage. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
After many delays, Centre notifies cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims: Know key provisions, payment cap
A week after the Supreme Court reprimanded the government, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Monday notified the cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims during the 'golden hour'. According to the gazette notification, the accident victim shall be entitled to cashless treatment for an amount up to Rs 1.5 lakh at any designated hospital under the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, which came into force on May 5, 2025. Going forward, any road accident victim who does not have insurance will be provided free treatment of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh. The rules of the scheme are yet to be notified. The Central government under Section 162(2) of the Act was required to frame a scheme to provide cashless treatment to motor accident victims during the 'golden hour'. Section 2(12A) of the Act defines 'golden hour' as the period of one hour following a traumatic injury when prompt treatment has the highest likelihood of preventing the victim's death. The scheme is significant since road accidents and fatalities are on the rise in the country and immediate medical help can save many lives. All about Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 'Any person being a victim of a road accident arising out of the use of motor vehicle, occurring on any road, shall be entitled to cashless treatment in accordance with the provisions of this Scheme. The victim shall be entitled to cashless treatment at any designated hospital for an amount up to Rs 1,50,000 per victim for a maximum period of seven days from the date of such accident,' reads the notification. It also says that the designated hospital has to administer medical treatment to the victim immediately on the victim being brought to the hospital. The notification further said that the treatment under this scheme at a hospital other than a designated hospital shall be for stabilisation purposes only and shall be as specified by the guidelines. The State Road Safety Council has been designated as the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme. The council will coordinate with the National Health Authority (NHA) for adoption and utilisation of the portal for onboarding of designated hospitals, treatment of victims and payment to the designated hospital for treatment. The agency will also coordinate with the State Health Agency to designate hospitals under the Scheme for providing treatment, in addition to the hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, as specified by the NHA. How will hospitals be paid under this scheme The scheme also provides for the steps to be followed for payment to the hospitals. 'After discharge of the victim under the scheme, the designated hospital or such other hospital providing stabilisation treatment shall raise a claim for payment of the cost of treatment package on the portal, in such manner and along with such documents as specified by the State Health Agency,' reads the notification. According to section 8(3) of the Act, the State Health Agency shall either approve, in full or in part, or reject the claim, in full or in part. It will record the reason on the portal and make it available to the designated hospital as well. According to the scheme, the Centre will set up a steering committee for monitoring the scheme's implementation. The committee will be headed by Secretary, MoRTH and CEO, NHA. Members will include Additional Secretary, MoRTH; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Secretary General, General Insurance Council, among others. 'The steering committee shall meet at least twice in a year, at such time, date and at such place as the chairperson may, from time to time, specify on this behalf. The steering committee may seek information from any State Road Safety Council or any entity or officer involved in the implementation of the scheme for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the scheme. The implementation of the scheme in each state or Union territory shall be monitored by the respective State Road Safety Council,' according to the Gazette notification. According to MoRTH data, in 2023 over 4.80 lakh road accidents took place in the country which resulted in over 1.72 lakh people fatalities. When compared with the 2022 data on road accidents, the crashes have increased by 4.2 per cent and there is an increase of 2.6 per cent in fatalities. Over 4.61 lakh road accidents and over 1.68 lakh fatalities took place in 2022. Last week, a bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan pulled up the Secretary, MoRTH, seeking to know why the government was yet to notify the scheme under Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 'People are dying in road accidents. You are constructing huge highways but people are dying there because there is no facility. There is no scheme for golden hour treatment. What is the use of constructing so many highways?', Justice Oka told the Secretary, who appeared before it last Monday.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
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.
