Cashless Treatment Up to One Lakh for Accident Victims
– Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar
A Decision to Develop a Separate Mobile App for Hospital Information, Bed Availability, and Complaint Registration
Mumbai, April 18: To ensure timely and quality cashless treatment for patients, hospitals, society officials, and implementing agencies must remain vigilant. Strict action will be taken against those indulging in malpractices. Additionally, the Public Health Department has been directed to provide cashless treatment of up to one lakh rupees for accident victims through affiliated and other emergency hospitals, stated Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar.
Minister Abitkar reviewed the progress of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana at the State Health Assurance Society headquarters in Worli, Mumbai. Present at the meeting were Dr. Omprakash Shete, Chairman of the Ayushman Bharat Mission Maharashtra Committee, Annasaheb Chavan, CEO of the State Health Assurance Society, Dr. Dayanand Jagtap, Deputy CEO, Ashok Atram, Deputy Secretary of the Public Health Department, Dr. Ravindra Shete, Assistant Director, and others.
During the meeting, Minister Abitkar took several key decisions for the effective implementation of these schemes. One such decision was to increase the number of affiliated hospitals from 1792 to 4180. He directed that the selection process should be carried out transparently under the chairmanship of the district collectors.
Other decisions included increasing the number of treatments covered under the scheme, improving rates, including costly treatments like organ transplants, and incorporating primary healthcare services into the scheme. A study committee has been formed to submit its report within one month. It was also decided to develop a separate mobile app for public access to information on hospital availability, bed availability, and complaint registration.
Minister Abitkar also instructed that each affiliated hospital should organize at least one health camp per month, where a minimum of five patients should be treated cashlessly. Local representatives should be involved in these camps, and their publicity should be done beforehand.
For better implementation of the scheme, district-level committees should be established under the chairmanship of the respective ministers, and meetings should be organized without delay. Additionally, a plan to expedite the distribution of Ayushman cards through ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ration shopkeepers, and urban service centers was discussed. Minister Abitkar also directed an increase in the honorarium for these workers.
It was mentioned that around 1,300 crores of funding has been distributed to hospitals since March, and further necessary funds will be provided as needed. Minister Abitkar emphasized that the implementation of this ambitious scheme should be fully transparent, and no form of malpractice will be tolerated.
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