Ayushman Bharat Scheme: PGI writes to NHA as Punjab fails to clear Rs 6.5-cr dues

Naina Mishra

Chandigarh, June 20

The PGI has written to the National Health Authority (NHA) as the Punjab Government has failed to clear dues exceeding Rs 6.5 crore under Ayushman Bharat, a health insurance scheme.

The institute has now requested the NHA, the implementing agency for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, to intervene so that the claims can be reimbursed. The PGI has also requested the Punjab Health Department for timely reimbursement of the dues.

The Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana was launched on August 20, 2019. The scheme is designed to provide health protection by providing a financial cover to at least 65 per cent of the population of Punjab.

It is an entitlement-based health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year.

Under the scheme, cashless and paperless treatment is available at government and empanelled private hospitals.

Though the institute has not stopped the treatment of patients coming from Punjab, who claim concession under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, had earlier halted the treatment of patients hailing from Punjab after the dues accumulated to Rs 2.2 crore this year.

In Chandigarh, including private hospitals, the GMCH, Sector 32, and the GMSH, Sector 16, the Punjab Government owes over Rs 3 crore under the scheme. Yashpal Garg, UT Health Secretary, said, “The GMCH had already stopped the treatment of patients coming from Punjab over pending dues. We have already requested the Punjab Government to expedite the process of clearing the dues so that the treatment of patients from Punjab can also be started.” The scheme covers around 40 lakh families in Punjab. The government claims to have offered free treatment worth Rs 1,112.41 crore to 9.63 lakh beneficiaries under the scheme. In February this year, it was decided by the Punjab Government that the SBI-GIC, the insurance company that was given the contract, would not offer it services after February 25.