Health Ministry holds discussion with states on NHPS

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : After announcement of the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ and National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has started the process of State consultations.

On February 9, 2018, a Video Conferencing was held with all the States to share initial details of the proposed NHPS. All States have shown keenness to join. To hold further discussions with the States and other relevant stakeholders, a national consultation on NHPS was organized by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on February 15-16, 2018, in New Delhi. The objective of this consultation was to discuss with the States details of the scheme, assess their preparedness, to learn from the States which had good experience in implementing their own health insurance/ assurance schemes. Background notes and concept paper of the scheme was shared in advance with all the States, according to a PIB release.

Almost all States and Union Territories (31) participated in the two-day deliberations along with representatives from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Finance, NITI Aayog and other stakeholders. Most of he States were represented at the level of Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary/ Secretary Health. The two-day consultations were attended by more than 200 participants.

In order to engage with States so as to finalise the contours of the scheme, six Working Groups were formed. They are : Working group on processes, Working group on Information Technology, Working group on fraud detection and grievances,Working group on Awareness generation, Working group on Institutional arrangement, and Working group on Continuum of Care.