New health scheme flawed: IMA

New health scheme flawed: IMA

News:

1. The Indian Medical Association has sought the review of National Health Protection Scheme- Ayushman Bharat.

Important Facts:

2. The Indian Medical Association said that the National Health Protection Scheme has conceptual deficits and operational flaws.
3. Concerns raised by Indian Medical Association:

•  Rates quoted by the government for various procedures are inadequate and impractical.
• Rate quota do not cover approx. 30% of the cost of the procedure.
• Cost cutting will led to serious compromise of patient safety and exposing them to danger.
• IMA pointed out that the policy change will end up strengthening the insurance business.
• The government will lose around ₹400 crore to private health insurance companies who will manage the scheme.
• IMA pointed out that the NHPS fails to create any new national asset.
• IMA said if same money invested in public hospitals would have brought secondary and tertiary care closer to poor in government hospitals.

4. Demand of Indian medical Association

• The IMA demanded that the costing undertaken should be made transparent and be put in public domain.
• District hospital should be allocated with 2 crore for better infrastructure and healthcare facility.
• IMA has suggested the government that NHPS should be modelled as healthcare purchase directly from the provider hospitals removing the insurance companies and third party administrators.
• These intermediaries take off 40% of the budgeted money and are breeders of corruption and unethical practices

5. Currently, Twenty States have signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry to implement the government national health protection mission.
6. The mission aiming to provide a cover of ₹5 lakh per family annually to ten crore vulnerable families.