Jalandhar: IMA hails budget, says it makes healthcare a priority
The Punjab chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), through its state president Dr Vikas Chhabra, has raised concerns over timely payments to hospitals and other operational challenges.
Welcoming the provisions for health budget, Dr Chhabra, in a press statement, praised the government’s initiative to universalise the Ayushman Bharat Mukhya Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, emphasising that prioritising healthcare for all residents of Punjab was commendable.
However, he noted that past experiences with similar schemes had not been smooth and necessary amendments should be considered before implementation.
“One of the key recommendations from IMA Punjab is for the scheme to be managed through a government-backed insurance company that deposits at least 50 per cent of the corpus as security with the state government,” he added. This measure, Dr Chhabra argued, would prevent financial shortfalls that could impact both beneficiaries and healthcare providers.
The association also suggested a nominal premium contribution from affluent patients to enhance the scheme’s sustainability. It proposed a category-based card system, where beneficiaries would be categorised based on income, ensuring that higher income families, who often prefer private rooms and advanced facilities, contribute accordingly.
Dr Chhabra further urged the government to open reserved treatment packages for poor families, ensuring that the most underprivileged 16 lakh families benefit from better medical care. He also stressed the importance of timely payments to hospitals, warning that delays could severely impact patient care, given that nearly 100 per cent of the population would now be covered under the scheme.
Dr Chhabra appreciated the ongoing discussions with Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh and Principal Secretary, Health, Kumar Rahul on sundry issues.
