Indian Medical Association oppose Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

New Delhi (29/09/2019): Indian Medical Association comes out strongly against the current structure and mode of implementation of AB-PMJAY.

According to IMA National President Dr. Santanu Sen, “Insurance model Health Care Delivery system is a failed model. India should not take to the insurance route for Healthcare delivery. The administrative cost and the unholy nexus with the insurance companies point towards profit maximization rather than quality Health Care delivery as the output.”

He also demanded to restrict AB-PMJAY to private sector. He pointed out that services in Government Hospitals are free of cost to people already. There is no additional benefit accruing to people by including Government Hospitals.

“Moreover, if the Government wanted to fund the public hospitals they should do so directly. Why should it be done through insurance companies by paying out 15% to them?”, Dr. Sen questioned!

Dr. R.V. Asokan, Secretary General of IMA pointed out that fragmented approach to Health Care will not bear fruit. He said that IMA demands tax funded Universal Health coverage rather than the “For profit” insurance model.

IRDAI has no concept about the Health Care needs of the people and should be kept away from any policy or standards formulations. The negative approach of the Government to name and shame the Hospitals has been borrowed from the “For profit” insurance companies and the dehumanized approach of IRDAI.

Their main demand was that the Government should come out with a transparent and fair costing system, eliminate the insurance companies, restrict AB PM-JAY to purchase of care from private sector for well defined economically and socially marginalised people over and above what is provided by a robust public sector. Public Hospitals should be strengthened directly by Government funds by way of infrastructure and Human Resources.