Over 6000 private hospitals likely to join Ayushman Bharat Yojna

New Delhi, Aug 1: Over 6000 private hospitals of the country are likely to join Ayushman Bharat Yojna (National Health Protection Scheme) - the flagship scheme of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Almost 30 states including some Union territories have come on board for this scheme with Rajasthan and Maharashtra showing some reluctance till very late.

Sources said that the ministry will be meeting all these states on August 4-5, 2018 in Delhi to discuss the nitty-gritty of implementation of the scheme. The project will be announced on August 15, 2015 but will be rolled out on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi that is October 2.

Maharashtra and Rajasthan have been the last states to join the scheme because there are many states that already have such schemes. Under this scheme the state government will have to contribute 40 percent expenses while the Centre will have to pay 60 percent. Sources said that such states where these schemes are being run under trust no premium payment will be required while other states where there is insurance, states will have to pay premium for example Nagaland will be paying Rs 444 per person. Since this is a state-specific scheme so this premium will vary from one state to other.

Sources informed that states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur will role out on October 2 this year. Other states will also do it gradually. Moreover, portability of the scheme will also available and services will be available across the country for every person insured under this scheme. So if someone falls ills outside the state where he/she lives, the rate will be applicable of the particular state where he is in but money will be paid by the state he/she belongs to.

Sources said that Aadhar is preferable but not mandatory to get benefits of this scheme. To felicitate people to get benefit of this schemes Common Service Centers (CSCs), call centres, website and Asha workers are being prepared to work for it.

Sources said, "Out of total approximately 11 crore people covered under this scheme just 5 per cent that is around 65 lakhs have gone missing. Apparently they must have shifted the place in want of job or some other reason, we find this number quite satisfactory."

The scheme aims to cover over 11 crore poor people and criterion has been taken from the 2011 census but some more survey and research have been done so more people could be included. This is an effort to benefit poor people to provide especially secondary and tertiary healthcare.