Covid testing, treatment now free under Ayushman Bharat

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Now, more than 50 crore citizens, eligible under the health assurance scheme will be able to avail free testing treatment for Covid-19 in empaneled hospitals NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY STATEMENT

nNEW DELHI: The government on Saturday announced that it has brought the testing and treatment for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PM JAY) health insurance scheme, making testing and treatment free in private hospitals for the eligible population.

“The testing and treatment of Covid -19 is already available for free in the public facilities. Now, more than 50 crore citizens, eligible under the government of India’s health assurance scheme will be able to avail free testing through private labs and treatment for Covid-19 in empaneled hospitals,” a statement from the National Health Authority, that is the implementing agency for the Modi government’s flagship scheme, said on Saturday.

The empaneled hospitals can use their own authorized testing facilities or tie up with an authorized testing facility for conducting tests under the scheme.

These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and by private laboratories approved or regisworst tered by the country’s apex biomedical research organisation.

“…Making testing and treatment available under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna will significantly expand our capacities by including private sector hospitals and labs and mitigate the adverse impact of this catastrophic illness on the poor,” Union minister for health and family welfare Harsh Vardhan said in the statement.

This decision comes with the objective to increase the supply of testing and treatment facilities and increase access to them by roping in the private sector throughayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna.

The advisory by the government is that the laboratory test should only be offered when prescribed by a qualified physician for Covid-19 testing.