Union Health Minister reviews Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and Digital Mission

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda conducted a comprehensive review of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), focusing on their achievements and challenges in implementation. The review, held with senior officials of the National Health Authority (NHA), highlighted significant milestones and strategies to enhance the schemes’ effectiveness.

During the meeting, Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, CEO of NHA, presented detailed insights into the schemes’ current status. PMJAY, which aims to provide universal health coverage, has issued 34.7 crore Ayushman Cards and facilitated over 7.35 crore hospital admissions, totaling more than ₹1 lakh crore in benefits. The presentation outlined plans to strengthen the network of empanelled hospitals and improve engagement strategies with healthcare providers.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Nadda reiterated the schemes’ objective of ensuring healthcare access for the most vulnerable sections of society. He emphasized the need to promptly resolve operational challenges in collaboration with state governments. “We must overcome barriers hindering the effective implementation of PMJAY and ensure its benefits reach those in urgent need,” he emphasized.

To streamline the creation of Ayushman Cards, especially in urban areas, Minister Nadda advocated for a bottom-up approach that simplifies verification processes for eligible beneficiaries. He underscored the importance of flexible and agile systems to facilitate seamless enrolment.

Recognizing the value of beneficiary feedback, Minister Nadda highlighted the integration of smart technology tools to directly engage with beneficiaries. This approach aims to gather insights into patient care experiences, thereby enhancing healthcare service delivery.

The review also covered fraud detection and prevention measures implemented by NHA, which have significantly boosted the scheme’s efficiency. Additionally, Minister Nadda was briefed on the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), a collaborative effort with the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI). NHCX enables paperless settlement of insurance claims and provides real-time status updates, benefiting citizens and insurers alike.

Dr. Basant Garg, Additional CEO of NHA, along with senior officials from NHA and the Union Health Ministry, participated in the review meeting, underscoring the collaborative effort towards achieving healthcare milestones under Ayushman Bharat.