IMA Rejects Centre’s National Health Protection Scheme, Ayushman Bharat, Favours Trust Model

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has rejected the current package rates of the centrally-sponsored National Health Protection Scheme, Ayushman Bharat.

In an emergency meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, the IMA said the package rates were ‘unacceptable’ but appreciated the government’s decision to empanel hospitals that have more than 10 beds.

“These package rates are unacceptable as they are exposing the patients to danger in hospitals. The quality of services will have to be compromised at such low rates and it will only breed corruption. This will have deleterious effect on patient safety,” IMA stated in a press release.

It has raised objections to the package rates, fund allocation and insurance model, stressing the need for scientific costing before fixing the rates.

Following this decision of the IMA, Odisha government feels vindicated about its stand to go in for the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). On June 12, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the state scheme that would benefit around 3.5 crore people (70 lakh families), after rejecting Ayushman Bharat.

“Under the scheme, everyone visiting a government health institution from district to the sub-centre level will be provided all health services free of cost,” Naveen had said.

The cashless healthcare assistance aims at near universal coverage. Moreover, it is an assurance-based scheme, not insurance policy, he added.

Clarifying his stand on the issue, the Chief Minister had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi apprising him of Odisha’s concerns about the central scheme.

In the letter, Naveen said, “The dependence of NHPC on Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data will be a serious handicap in achieving universal coverage. As you will agree, the SECC survey done on the criteria fixed by the UPA government has grave lacuna and many genuine poor have been left out.”

The SECC survey was conducted in 2011.

“About 40 lakh people (8 lakh families) who are already covered under the health assistance schemes of our state will be left out if we take SECC data as a base,” the letter said, adding that the state government had always gone for near universal coverage in schemes like Mamata, Rural Housing, State pension for Old Age and also National Food Security Act (NFSA).

“Our state has a mandate of providing near universal health coverage. In view of the same, our government has announced a health assurance scheme which will cover nearly 70 lakh families of the state. However, we will be willing to consider joining NHPC in due course if the concerns of the state are addressed adequately,” Naveen added.

 On June 14, Health Minister Pratap Jena had advocated the state’s scheme, saying that it was better than that of the Centre.

“The Rs 5 lakh health assistance to 70 lakh families, or 3.5 crore people, under the BSKY will benefit more than the 61 lakh families covered under the central government programme. Signing up for the Ayushman Bharat mission would deprive nine lakh families from free health services,” he said.

The minister further said that Ayushman Bharat potentially exposes beneficiaries to insurance companies, while under BSKY, costs incurred at empaneled hospitals will be reimbursed by a trust. Besides, Rs 500 each will be provided to all pregnant women and infants admitted to government hospitals to meet pick-up and drop expenses, he added.