2,700 families in PCB limits get Ayushman Bharat cover

PUNE: Over 2,700 families residing within the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) limits have been enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme. The families will get the medical cards from the district collector’s office, said PCB Chief Executive Officer Amit Kumar.

He was addressing a General Board meeting held on Friday. The board is also planning to empanel the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel General Hospital (SVPCGH) under the Ayushman Bharat Mission.

“This healthcare mission has empanelled several hospitals in the city. However, there is no hospital on the list that is near the cantonment area. After detailed discussions and deliberations with the medical officer-in-charge, it was advised that SVPCGH may be empanelled under the scheme given the convenience to a large number of families residing in the limits as well as surrounding areas,” said Kumar.

“This will also help in generating revenue for the cantonment board since the rates of services under Ayushman Bharat Mission are higher than present rates being levied at SVPCGH,” he added.

Under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), all public hospitals (community health centre and above), in the states implementing PMJAY, are deemed empanelled. Hospitals belonging to Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) may also be empanelled based on the bed occupancy ratio parameter.

However, the SVPCGH has increased speciality and super speciality consultant coverage, upgraded operation theatre services and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will soon be in the hospital. The board has received a large number of requests from individuals, who come under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) for empanelment of the hospital.

During the meeting, the board also suggested that the retired PCB employees, who are entitled to the facility of CGHS, may be directed to enrol with CGHS and avail this from the hospital. This will curtail the revenue expenditure towards retired PCB employees and at the same time help increase revenue collection at the hospital since they will be charged as per cantonment general hospital rates.