National Health Authority gets Cabinet nod

National Health Authority gets Cabinet nod

News:

Cabinet approved restructuring of National Health Agency as National Health Authority

Important Facts:

• With this move, the existing National Health Agency will be dissolved and its status now stands to that of an Authority as an attached office to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The creation of the National Health Authority will lead to faster decision-making and more accountability and efficiency to ensure availability of quality services to beneficiary families through strategic purchase of healthcare services, and increase in private sector investment in healthcare
• The National Health Authority shall have full autonomy, accountability and the mandate to implement Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making process.

National Health Authority

• The NHA’s governing board will be chaired by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, while its members will include NITI Aayog CEO and NHA CEO
• The ministry’s role will now be limited to acting as the nodal ministry for NHA in parliamentary matters, like the presentation of annual reports.

Significance:

• It will ensure effective implementation of PM-JAY as it will align the accountability with responsibility.
• Faster decision-making will be done, as the multi-layered structure has been simplified and the role of the Authority has been clarified.
• Availability of quality services will be there as the Authority will be able to specify treatment protocols and enforce their compliance.
• Reduction in leakages as the Authority will have stronger mandate to prevent, detect and control frauds and abuse and redress grievances

About PM-JAY:

• PM-JAY, is being described as the world’s largest health insurance scheme. It is a cashless and paperless access to health services up to Rs. 5 lakhs per year to poor and vulnerable people identified as per the socio economic caste census.
• Key features of the scheme
  • Easy access to medical treatment – With the implementation of this project, poor people will receive free medical treatment.
  • Medical insurance amount – Under this scheme, all applicants will be able to attain a medical insurance scheme that amounts to a whopping 5 lakhs. This amount is for one financial year.
  • Number of beneficiaries – This scheme offers this cashless treatment and medical insurance benefits to as many as 10.74 individuals. Only those people will be able to apply who have their names registered in the SECC-2011 Data list.
  • Implementation in all areas – The scheme will be implemented in all parts of the nation.
  • Flexibility of implementation – The central government has highlighted some implementation methods for easy of operations. Each state will be able to choose the implementation mode that suits its needs.
  • For both villages and cities – People, living in rural areas as well as cities will be able to enroll for this scheme as long as they fulfill other eligibility criteria. 85% and 60% beneficiaries have been identified from villages and urban settlements respectively.
  • Listed hospitals only – The cashless and paperless treatment will be available only if the patients get admission in empaneled hospitals.