GDMC to seek SHA approval before treating patients under Ayushman scheme
PNS | DEHRADUN
In order to ensure that no error occurs on any count, the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) administration has decided to seek approval from the higher authorities before treating patients under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. This decision comes at a time when approximately 1,000 patients are awaiting approval from the State Health Agency (SHA) at GDMC.
Informing this, the medical superintendent at the hospital Dr Anurag Aggarwal said that till January 2024, patients’ claims under the Ayushman scheme had been processed by the SHA. “However, changes to the scheme were implemented by the Centre last year. Due to these modifications and some leniency on the part of the hospital administration, errors have been found in the patient claim files. In view of this, a recent meeting was held with the SHA representatives during which it was communicated to the hospital administration that the approval process for an average of 1,000 patients per year had been stalled. The hospital administration was subsequently asked to review their files, correct errors and resubmit them for approval,” he stated.
Aggarwal further said that the process of correcting the files would take some time. “We have made it a point that no leniency would be shown in future. Further, the hospital administration has decided that no patients will receive treatment under the Ayushman scheme without the approval of the SHA,” he added.
SHA approves specific patients within six to 11 hours of registration. Following approval, patients will be treated under the new scheme, in a departure from previous practices.
Additionally, the hospital administration has instructed doctors to adhere to all scheme guidelines, including taking clear photos and signatures of patients at the time of registration.
Aggarwal said that the new practice might pose difficulties for some patients initially. “But things will settle down in due course of time,” he added.