Ayushman Bharat Pakhwara
Ayushman Bharat is completing one year. Ayushman Bharat, or Healthy India has two pillars: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), and Health and Wellness Centres (HWC). Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland will be celebrating Ayushman Bharat Pakhwara, a fortnight first anniversary celebration across the districts from 15th September to 30th September 2019. A string of activities are planned during the fortnight.
A walkathon will be held in each of the district headquarters, which is jointly organised by the Departments of Health and Family Welfare, Social Welfare, Urban Development, and Municipal Affairs. Kiphire, Kohima, Peren, Tuensang, and Zunheboto will hold the program on 19th September, Dimapur and Phek on 23rd September, Longleng and Wokha on 27th September, Mon on 24th September, and yet to be decided for Mokokchung District. Launching program will be held at the end of the walkathon, which will be followed by beneficiary identification and verification drive for processing ecards for PMJAY beneficiaries. The Self Help Group members of National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) are especially requested to participate in the walkathon and bring their ration cards and aadhaar cards. Anyone can check their eligibility and generate PMJAY ecards during the event. Health screening camp will also be held at the venue.
Ayushman Bharat Diwas will be held at all the PMJAY empanelled hospitals and Sub-Centre Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) on the 23rd of September. IEC campaign will be held on the day with hospital staffs and community members. There are 59 PMJAY empanelled hospitals in the State consisting of 4 private hospitals, 11 district hospitals, 20 community health centres and 24 primary health centres. Beneficiary identification and verification drives to generate PMJAY ecards will be held in several villages in each district. Other forms of awareness activities including mass media campaign will be held during the fortnight.
One year performance of PMJAY
Till mid September 2019, about 3,000 patients from Nagaland have availed benefit worth Rs. 4.7 crore. Two lakhs ecards have been generated. The State has a target of 2.3 lakhs beneficiary families in the State. PMJAY provides insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year. The scheme provides cover for hospitalized care including some day care procedures with a total of 1534 treatment packages. With the ecard, the beneficiary can avail treatment from any empanelled government or private hospital across the country. More than 100 patients from Nagaland have already availed benefit from outside the State amounting to Rs. 21.6 lakhs.
Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) has treated the highest number of patients with 623 preauthorisations as on 17th September. CIHSR Dimapur is next with 538, followed by Faith Hospital (416).
Beneficiary testimonies
Mr. Soseyo Yhobu, a 70 years old man from Kikruma village, Phek district came to know about the AB-PMJAY when awareness talk was given in the church in his village. He had a knee injury when he was young, and had suffered for several years. His bone fragments got lodged between the muscles which made him limp while walking. Through use of PMJAY ecard, he had undergone operation at NHAK with no cost incurred from his end.
Mr. V Kire, a farmer from Kohima village was diagnosed with cancer in January 2018. For over a year, the family managed the cost of treatment which caused financial burden to the family as the monthly income of the family is only ‘marginal’, as described by his daughter. Since he was introduced to PMJAY, his chemotherapy treatment is covered by the scheme. He is continuing his treatment from NHAK.
State Health Agency, PMJAY Nagaland has prepared a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document to spread awareness and clarify doubts about the scheme.
Dr. Kikameren Longkumer
State Nodal Officer
AB-PMJAY, Nagaland
