Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced that NTR Vaidya Seva will begin providing cashless services on April 1st under a hybrid approach. The program provides below-poverty line (BPL) families with universal health coverage.
The Minister stated at a news conference held at the secretariat that the hybrid model will offer free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh to 4.3 crore individuals from 1.43 crore households. “The Central government’s Ayushman Bharat plan, insurance, and State NTR Vaidya Seva would be combined under the hybrid model to give quality health services to the underprivileged.”
According to him, the model is being developed to include more poor people. The State government has chosen to combine Ayushman Bharat with NTR Vaidya Seva Trust, which covers medical costs ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, as 61 lakh families are currently receiving health services under the program up to Rs 5 lakh.
He claimed that after researching health services in ten states, Andhra is using the hybrid approach. Yadav further denied rumors that the new model would cancel medical treatments for less than Rs 2.5 lakh, stating that claims for less than Rs 2.5 lakh will be handled under the insurance model.
The State will investigate the connection between physicians and diagnostic centers that defraud patients, the Health Minister further pledged. “We are monitoring the complaints we have received regarding these matters as well. We also have a surveillance system. Yadav responded to reports that doctors receive a 50% cut for each test they recommend is performed solely at a specific diagnostic facility by saying, “We are dispatching vigilance committees.” He added that in order to combat this kind of corruption, the southern state intends to employ artificial intelligence.
-NSH Digidesk
