Now, Covid covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme

LUCKNOW : The coronavirus disease or Covid-19 is now covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and its beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh can avail treatment for Covid-19 at private and government hospitals, in addition to what government is providing free of cost at present.

A circular to this effect was issue to all chief medical officers for necessary action by Sangeeta Singh, CEO of State Agency for Comprehensive Health Insurance and Integrated Services (SACHIS) that monitors Ayushman Bharat scheme in Uttar Pradesh. “The rates prescribed for treatment are applicable for both private and government hospitals for the Ayushman beneficiaries,” said Singh. There are over 1,200 private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the state has registered 1.18 crore families under it. But not all private hospitals are providing Covid treatment. The decision is likely to motivate more hospitals to admit Covid patients after following protocol.

As per the order, hospitals can charge ₹1,800 for general ward isolation per day per bed while for high dependency unit isolation ₹2,700 can be charged by hospitals. For ICU without ventilator ₹3,600 and for ICU with ventilator ₹4,500 can be charged.

But doctors say there is need for more clarity on the circular. “It’s a real help for the poor. But presently not all hospitals, even if they are empanelled for Ayushman Bharat, are allowed to admit Covid-19 patients, hence health authorities need to further define if all hospitals can admit Covid patients or not,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors. Dr Shukla said all those admitting Covid patients need to have separate isolation, ICU and HDUs (high dependency unit), which may not be the case at all empaneled hospitals.