29 states, UTs sign MoU for implementation of Ayushman Bharat

NEW DELHI: 29 states and Union Territories (UTs) have signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) and have started working on implementation of the PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojna.nnThe pilots have started in 16 States / UTs. Other states/UTs will also start pilots before fully launching the scheme on 25thSeptember.nnThis was stated by  J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfareduring a press conference on Ayushman Bharat – PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojna (AB-PMJAY), here, while addressing the media.nnAshwini Kumar Choubey andAnupriya Patel, Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare along with ShriInduBhushan, CEO, AB-NHA were also present at the press conference.nnNadda further said thatthe scheme architecture and formulation has undergone a truly federal process, with stakeholder inputs taken from all States and UTs through the national conclaves, sectoral working groups, intensive field exercises and piloting of key modules.nnNadda cautioned that strict action will be taken against those running the fake websites on Ayushman Bharat.nnHe categorically clarified that no enrolment is required for beneficiaries and there is no payment for obtaining services at empaneled hospitals. ?Criminal cases will be charged against fraudulent websites and agents trying to collect money from beneficiaries,? he added.nnNadda stated that ArogyaMitras training is being conducted in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Ministry of Skill Development to strengthen implementation and operational preparedness. ?Training has already been initiated in 15 states/UTs,?Nadda said.nnReiterating the commitment of his government, the Union Health Minister said the objectives of the AB-PMJAY is to reduce out of pocket hospitalisation expenses, fulfil unmet needs and improve access of identified families to quality inpatient care and day care surgeries. ?The services will include more than 1300 procedures covering pre and post hospitalization, diagnostics, medicines etc., and the beneficiaries will be able to move across borders and access services across the country through the provider network seamlessly,? ShriNadda stated.nnAddressing the conference, Nadda said that the Government has given total flexibility to the States to choose their own modes of implementation among Insurance, Trust or Mixed Mode and Government is ready to provide the required support also.nnHe further said that NHA Information Security and Data Privacy are being institutionalized to provide adequate guidance and set of controls on the secure handling of Beneficiaries Personal Data and Sensitive Personal Data in compliance with all laws and regulations applicable.nn?The information security is based on international best practices and India specific regulations and more than 94 controls set at various levels for secure handling of sensitive personal data. Strong measures have been taken to ensure security and privacy of data obtained, stored and used based on international best practices and India specific regulations,? Nadda said.nnNadda also unveiled the PMJAY logo to the media while Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the Anti-fraud Guidelines. Choubey launched the Data Privacy and Information Security Policy.nnLater, Nadda and ShriDharmendraPradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship presided over aMoU signing ceremony between National Health Agency (NHA) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for skilling 1 lakh ArogyaMitras.nnChoubey and Patel, Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare were also present at the ceremony. Indu Bhushan, CEO, NHA and Manish Kumar, MD and CEO, NSDC signed and exchanged the MoU.nnNSDC through the Skills Development Centres under the larger National Skill Qualification Framework including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), Centres of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) will help NHA in building capacity of ArogyaMitras.PradhanMantriKaushal Kendra (PMKK) platform would be used to train and certify ArogyaMitra at each hospital.nnNSDC through Health Sector Skill Council (HSSC) is preparing training content and will train PMKKs from all the states. In future, platform of NSDC would also be used to build capacity of staff other than ArogyaMitra, this will contribute heavily in the area of skill development.