KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 23 (MExN): The nationwide Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission/Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(AB- NHPM/PMJAY) was launched in Nagaland State today by Minister of Health, S Pangnyu Phom in Kohima on September 23, Sunday.
The state level launching programme of the scheme was held at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) and chaired by Dr Vikeyie Losu, Principal Director, Department of Health &Family Welfare.
In his launch speech, the Minister stated that the scheme was one of the government’s initiative towards achieving universal access to quality healthcare services irrespective of financial status as every citizen has a right to a healthy life. He urged everyone to check their entitlement eligibility status from the nearest empaneled hospital or Common Service Centres.
The Minister said that the scheme aims to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket expenditure on hospitalization by providing entitled beneficiary households a benefit cover for the hospitalization expenses up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year with no cap on family size and age of the family members.
About 1,550 health packages comprising of treatment for almost all secondary and tertiary ailments are covered under the scheme. The benefits would be cashless & paperless and can be availed from any of government hospital or empaneled private hospitals across the country.
Families featuring in the defined Socio Economic & Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database of the state as well as existing enrolled RSBY (2016) beneficiary families are entitled for this scheme, covering a total of about 2.33 lakhs poor and vulnerable families in the state.
The scheme is entitlement based as per SECC 2011 and RSBY 2016 data, hence there will be no separate enrolment drive under the scheme.
The scheme was also simultaneously launched in all the districts across the state. Jacob Zhimomi, PHE Minister launched the scheme in Dimapur and L Khumo, Advisor- Fisheries, Evaluation, Economics & Statistics in Kiphire. For the remaining districts, the Deputy Commissioners launched the scheme in their respective districts.
In Mokokchung, the launch event was held at the IMDH through video- bridge & telecast by the Prime Minister. Dr P Medemmayang, Medical Superintendent IMDH Mokokchung in his vote of thanks, thanked all the participants for attending the programme despite their busy schedule.
Dr Kibangkumba, Dy. CMO and District Nodal Officer for AB- NHPM/ PMJAY chaired the programme and also addressed the key features of AB-NHPM/ PMJAY, eligibility, hospital empanelment and pilot testing of NHPM. In Kiphire, L Khumo Khiam, Advisor for Fisheries, Economic, Evaluation & Statistics launched the scheme at the Conference Hall, New Hospital Complex.
He remarked that with the launch of this scheme, majority of rural population who do not have access to good health care facilities will now enjoy the benefit of the scheme.
He also stated that after coming to power, the PDA government has been judiciously using central funds for the improvement of health care facilities. Earlier the program was chaired by Dr. Tinurenla Anichari and vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. TIakala Walling, Sr. medical Officer, District Hospital Kiphire.
AB-NHPM/PMJAY eCards for the first 8 beneficiaries, including the first beneficiary to avail the benefits in the state, were distributed by the Health Minister. Similarly, eCards were distributed to beneficiaries during the launch in all the districts.
For more information on the scheme, citizens can contact at the following: • Helpline: 8794899089/ 9089776177/7628813737(state)|1800111565/14555 (national) • Email: nagaland.nhpm@gmail.com • Website: www.pmjay.gov.in| check eligibility at: mera.pmjay.gov.in
