Meghalaya to migrate to natl health scheme

SHILLONG: Meghalaya will join the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swashthya Suraksha Mission, on a convergence mode with Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) transitioning to the National Health Insurance Scheme, said Health Minister AL Hek in New Delhi on Thursday.
An MoU was signed by Pravin Bakshi, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare and CEO of MHIS in the presence of Hek.
Speaking during the Ayushman Bharat National Health Minister’s Conclave at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital, Hek outlined the features of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme, which is in its third phase of implementation since its launch in 2012.
The scheme, which has won several awards like Skoch Order of Merit and shortlisted for the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in 2014 has enrolled 4,36,788 households benefiting 15,57,008 persons in 201 empanelled hospitals all over the state and the country.
Under the MHIS, the existing health insurance cover is Rs 2,80,000 while the new ambitious National Health Protection Mission will provide health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh.
The number of households identified by the Government of India for the National Health Protection Mission is 3,39,779 households while the balance number of beneficiaries shall be covered by the state government with the same cover which is proposed at the level of the central scheme.
Hek informed in the conclave on Thursday that the state government would universalise the National Health Protection Mission to cover all eligible households co-branding with MHIS so that the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Swashthya Suraksha Mission or National Health Protection Mission is available to people of Meghalaya all over the country with empanelled hospitals.
The consultative conference was convened by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which was attended by Union Minister JP Nadda and state health and family welfare ministers.