- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The State Health Authority in Uttarakhand will develop a separate portal to address issues of patients receiving treatment under the Ayushman scheme. Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat has issued directions to officials in this regard.
On Thursday, Rawat held a meeting with officials from the State Health Authority. Considering the operational challenges of the existing portal, he instructed the development of a state-level portal. He emphasised creating a system where patients face no difficulties in treatment approvals and claims. Additionally, he stressed cost-efficiency in the scheme’s implementation, ensuring smooth access to benefits for millions of beneficiaries.
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Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar, Authority Chairman Arvind Singh Hyanki, CEO Reena Joshi, Finance Director Abhishek Anand, Administration Director Dr Vinod Tolia, Additional Director Administration Atul Joshi, Additional Director IT Amit Sharma and representatives of employee and pensioner organisations attended the meeting.
The minister also discussed budget constraints in the State Government Health Scheme for government employees. Officials presented a comparative study of the insurance and trust models, highlighting financial challenges due to higher expenses than employee and pensioner contributions. Some hospitals have refused services due to funding issues. A letter has been sent to the administration regarding gap funding in SGHS and a meeting with the finance department will be held to resolve this.
Regarding discussions on shifting the Ayushman scheme to an insurance-based model, Rawat noted that most states run it in trust mode. Even states using the insurance model are considering switching to the trust model.
Approximately 30,000 Uttarakhand pensioners who previously opted out of the scheme will be given the option to rejoin, addressing long-standing demands.
For the convenience of employees and pensioners under the State Government Health Scheme, an app will be developed to provide details on listed hospitals, specialist services, and bed availability. Other decisions included separate registration counters for Golden Card holders and simplifying the hospital admission process.
The Uttarakhand Secretariat Association requested removing the age limit for unmarried or dependent children and relaxing norms for serious diseases. Rawat assured action on this and announced the removal of the 25-year age restriction, allowing dependent children to benefit from the scheme until they gain employment.
