Healthy Soch
New Delhi, January, 02, 2019:
As the Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) completed its 100 days, the Union Cabinet today approved the re-structuring of existing National Health Agency as “National Health Authority”.
Through this decision, the existing society, “National Health Agency”, has been dissolved and its status now stands enhanced to that of an Authority. The National Health Authority shall have full autonomy, accountability and the mandate to implement PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making process.
Welcoming the decision of the Cabinet, Shri J. P. Nadda, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare observed that “the world’s largest healthcare scheme rightfully deserves the most efficient and effective governance structure with total accountability.”
Dr. Indu Bhushan, Chief Executive Officer, NHA stated that “we are humbled by the faith reposed by the Cabinet in according the status of an Authority to National Health Agency. We reaffirm our commitment to realise the ambitious vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister”.
The existing multi-tier governance structure has been replaced with a Governing Board (GB) chaired by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) with representation from the Government and domain experts. Since the Authority is now fully autonomous, the post of Joint Secretary (NHA/ Ayushman Bharat) will be transferred from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the National Health Authority.
The creation of the National Health Authority will lead to faster decision-making and more accountability and efficiency to ensure availability of quality services to beneficiary families through strategic purchase of healthcare services, preparation of list of health packages and their rates, robust fraud control and increase in private sector investment in healthcare.
Within 100 days of implementation of PM-JAY, 41.5 lakh e-cards have issued to the beneficiaries with more than 6.95 lakh beneficiaries having availed services under PM-JAY through a network of 16,157 empaneled (and in process) hospitals, amounting to the tune of Rs. 924 crores.
