Assam's AB‑PMJAY hospital reimbursement model praised by parliamentary panel
Guwahati, August 13
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state's model of allowing public hospitals to retain and reinvest reimbursements received under the Ayushman Bharat‑Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been recognised by a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare as a "highly pragmatic and replicable model."
Sarma said the Committee has also recommended that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) to facilitate adoption of the model by public hospitals across the country.
Taking to social media platform X, the Chief Minister expressed his appreciation for the recognition of Assam's initiative, describing it as a matter of pride for the state.
"I am pleased to learn that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare has described Assam's model of allowing public hospitals to retain and reinvest AB‑PMJAY reimbursements in infrastructure, medical equipment and patient welfare as a 'highly pragmatic and replicable model'," Sarma said.
He added that the Committee had recommended that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formulate SOPs enabling public hospitals nationwide to adopt the approach.
Sarma also expressed gratitude to Committee Chairman Ram Gopal Yadav and its members for acknowledging Assam's efforts. "My sincere gratitude to Hon'ble Chairman Shri Ram Gopal Yadav Ji and the esteemed members of the Committee for recognising Assam's efforts," he said.
The Chief Minister said the recognition assumes significance as an initiative originating in Assam has now been identified as a model that could potentially be implemented on a wider scale across the country.
The approach involves allowing public healthcare institutions to retain reimbursements received under the government‑funded health assurance scheme and use the funds to strengthen hospital infrastructure, purchase medical equipment, and improve facilities and services for patients.
The recommendation by the Parliamentary panel could pave the way for greater financial flexibility for public hospitals, while also supporting improvements in healthcare delivery and infrastructure.
AB‑PMJAY is the Centre's flagship health assurance scheme aimed at providing financial protection for eligible beneficiaries and reducing the burden of hospitalisation expenses.
Sarma said the recognition of Assam's model was a significant achievement and reaffirmed the state Government's efforts to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's good to see Assam getting credit for this. But let's not forget - the real test will be in implementation. Will the funds actually reach the hospitals on time, or will there be bureaucratic delays? Need to see concrete results before we pop the champagne. Still, a step in the right direction. 🙏
This is how you make public healthcare work! Giving hospitals autonomy to use their earnings for upgrades means better equipment, better services, and ultimately better patient outcomes. Really impressed by this forward-thinking approach from a state government. 🇮🇳
Good initiative, but what about accountability? We have seen many schemes praised on paper, but ground reality is different. Need transparency in how the money is being spent. But if implemented honestly, this could be a game-changer for public hospitals across India. #HealthcareForAll
As someone from the Northeast, I feel proud today! Our states are often overlooked, but this recognition shows we can lead the way too. CM Sarma has been pushing hard on healthcare, and this validation is well-deserved. Hoping more northeastern states benefit from this model. 🌟
It's encouraging to see state governments thinking beyond the usual templates. Empowering public hospitals to reinvest in themselves creates a sense of ownership. But I hope they also invest in training staff and digital infrastructure, not just buildings and machines.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.