IMA extends full support to the implementation of Ayushman Bharat

New Delhi: Recently Dr Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) and Dr R N Tandon, Hony. Secretary-General, Indian Medical Association (IMA) met to discuss the potential collaboration in implementing the flagship scheme.

The IMA representatives agreed to extend their support for better implementation of AB-NHPM especially in field of empanelment of hospitals, spreading awareness and beneficiary identification processes.

Dr R N Tandon remarked: “IMA is proud to be associated with AB-NHPM and would be keen to provide help in spreading awareness and developing a larger network of quality service providers especially in Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities.”

In his remarks, Dr Indu Bhushan menrioned that IMA is a critical stakeholder in AB-NHPM as private sector role is key to success of AB-NHPM by enhancing the accessibility to quality and patient centric care. Key issues like timely payments to the hospitals, feedback & grievance mechanism, ease of setting up of IT infrastructure at hospitals for paperless transactions etc. were deliberated on, and constructive suggestions were made during the meeting.

Dr Bhushan emphasized that, “We need to ensure that the targeted beneficiaries under AB-NHPM will get maximum benefits and can expand access to quality health services in both rural and urban areas including Tier-2 and 3 cities. This can be done only when Government, private healthcare providers and associations like IMA and other industry bodies work together as partners for betterment of health status of the society.”

Dr Dinesh Arora, Deputy CEO, AB-NHPM stated that NABH accreditation is desirable but not essential for the hospitals, since the quality and patient safety would be one of the key principle of AB-NHPM. He also conveyed that based on costing studies to be steered by NITI Aayog, continual adjustment of benefit packages and their rates is proposed, hence, IMA need to support NHA through their on-ground knowledge and professional expertise.

AB-NHPM has been designed to provide financial protection and prevent catastrophic health care expenditures to over ten crore poor and vulnerable families and endow a cover for cashless hospitalization services of upto INR Five lakh per family per year.