UP to expand Ayushman Bharat scheme to Cantonment Hospitals

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government is set to expand a major healthcare benefit to Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman Card) beneficiaries. 

Under this initiative, all Cantonment hospitals across the state will soon offer treatment facilities to Ayushman Card holders. For this, the State Health Agency (SACHIS) will soon sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 Cantonment hospitals.

There are a total of 13 Cantonment hospitals in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, Ayushman Card holders are already receiving treatment at the Prayagraj Cantonment Hospital. Encouraged by the successful outcomes of this initiative, the Yogi government has decided to extend the same benefit to all other Cantonment hospitals in the state, news agency UNI reported.

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SACHIS CEO Archana Verma stated on Saturday that since January 26, free treatment is being provided to Ayushman Card holders at the Prayagraj Cantonment Hospital. The hospital offers advanced medical facilities for serious diseases such as cardiology, nephrology, and medical and surgical oncology.

Along with free OPD appointments and diagnostic tests, free transportation facilities are also being provided to patients suffering from serious ailments, a measure that has yielded positive results.

Following this success, MoUs will soon be signed with the remaining 12 Cantonment Hospitals across the state. SACHIS has already completed almost all formalities in this regard. After the MoUs are finalized, Ayushman Card holders will be able to receive treatment at the Cantonment hospitals in Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Bareilly, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Shahjahanpur, Mathura, Agra, Fatehpur, Jhansi, and Babina.

The inclusion of these hospitals will further increase the total number of empaneled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Uttar Pradesh, thereby expanding access to quality healthcare for the poor and needy. 

According to SACHIS Additional CEO Dr. Pooja Yadav, coordination with Cantonment Hospitals will enable Ayushman Card holders to access expert healthcare services, especially for serious and complex medical conditions.

She added that a special pick and drop facility will also be made available for patients suffering from critical illnesses, ensuring that economically weaker patients do not face difficulties in reaching hospitals.

Dr Yadav further stated that all Cantonment hospitals are being aligned with the procedural framework of the Ayushman scheme. Once the MoUs are signed, these hospitals will be integrated into the scheme’s online portal, ensuring transparent and time-bound processes for patient treatment, billing, and claim settlement, reports UNI.

Through this initiative of the Yogi Government, the advanced medical infrastructure of the Cantonment Hospitals will now benefit common citizens as well. Additionally, the move will help balance the patient load across healthcare institutions.

The decision to link Cantonment Hospitals with the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is expected to provide significant relief to the poor and underprivileged citizens of Uttar Pradesh.

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