BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved the re-structuring of the National Health Agency as “National Health Authority” for better implementation of the Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), says an official statement issued in New Delhi.

With this objective, the “National Health Agency”, has been dissolved and its status now stands enhanced to that of an Authority.

The new Authority shall have full autonomy, accountability and the mandate to implement PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making process, the statement said.

J P Nadda, Union Health Minister, has said, “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, said, “The existing multi-tier governance structure has been replaced with a Governing Board (GB) chaired by the Union Health Minister 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 Union Health Ministry to the new body."

He stated, “The creation of the new health body 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.”

As Jan Arogya Yojana completed 100 days on December 31, 2018, around 41.5 lakh e-cards have been issued to the beneficiaries with more than 6.95 lakh beneficiaries having availed services through a network of 16,157 empaneled (and in process) hospitals, amounting to the tune of Rs. 924 crores so far, the statement said.