The National Health Agency (NHA), the apex body to implement Ayushman Bharat, on Wednesday launched the formal process to empanel public and private hospitals to implement the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) to achieve universal health coverage.
The objective is to improve access for the most vulnerable and unreached sections of the population, and holistically address healthcare by covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
National Health Agency and Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan urged all hospitals and healthcare service providers to maintain the motto of service to mankind and join Ayushman Bharat in spirit and deed.
“I call upon each one of you to partner with the mission through the empanelment process initiated today [on Wednesday] to enhance accessibility for the people who need it most. I also request all States/ Union Territories to help us garner support of hospitals and healthcare providers for this mission,” Dr. Bhushan said.
Ayushman Bharat deputy CEO Dinesh Arora said the aim is to provide financial protection to 10.74 crore deprived rural families and identified occupational categories of urban workers’ families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
“We are making every effort to ensure the empanelment process is conducted in a transparent, time-bound and non-partisan manner based on specific criteria, eligibility and guidelines,” Dr. Arora said.
Under Ayushman Bharat, he said, both public and private healthcare systems will get strengthened and work in partnership to provide accessible and equitable healthcare services to all entitled beneficiaries. Following the announcement, State Health Agencies, through State Empanelment Committees, will start empaneling private and public healthcare service providers and facilities in States and UTs as per the guidelines.