HIGHLIGHTS:
• The National Health Authority (NHA) began an exercise to combine beneficiary databases under multiple programmes
• The NHA is collaborating with the NFSA to integrate the SECC 2011 beneficiary database
• AB-PMJAY scheme provides health insurance valued up to 5 lakhs per family per year for care-related hospitalizations
The National Health Authority (NHA) began an exercise on February 14, 2022, to combine beneficiary databases under multiple programmes in order to upgrade its own database and better implement programmes. The implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri–Jan Arogya Yojana(AB PM-JAY) is the responsibility of the NHA .
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
• AB-PMJAY offers annual health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family. Secondary and tertiary care-related hospitalizations are covered by insurance.
• The scheme has identified 10.74 crore beneficiary families based on 6 deprivation and 11 occupational criteria in rural and urban areas, respectively, from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011.
• The majority of SECC 2011 beneficiaries are also eligible for benefits through the National Food Security Portal (NFSA).
Integration of several databases with the NFSA
• The NHA is collaborating with the NFSA to integrate the SECC 2011 beneficiary database. It would allow recipients to look up information about their AB PM-JAY entitlements by entering their ration card number.
• It is also developing a proposal to employ Ration Shops or Fair Price Shops to provide information about the scheme and entitlements to qualified beneficiaries.
• Beneficiaries will have an extra option for card creation in addition to the existing UTI-ITSL, Common Service Centre, and other options.
• It will also make the process of identifying beneficiaries much easier.
What methods will be used to integrate caste census databases?
According to the Ministry of Health, Aadhaar is a common identity that may be used across most government databases. It will make it possible to connect caste census databases. Through e-KYC, Aadhaar also enhances the certainty of beneficiary identification. e-KYC allows for target-based, paperless service delivery.
National Health Authority (NHA)
The National Health Agency is in charge of implementing the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It was created with the goal of implementing PM-JAY on a national scale. It takes over from the National Health Agency. In January 2019, the National Health Agency was renamed the National Health Authority.
