Modicare initiates empanelment of hospitals
New Delhi, July 4: The National Health Agency (NHA) on Wednesday called on public and private hospitals to get empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat programme, popularly known as Modicare, with the "motto of service to mankind" to achieve universal health coverage.
"I call upon each one of you to partner with the mission through the empanelment process initiated today to enhance the accessibility," NHA and Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan said, urging the healthcare service providers to join the revolution in "spirit and deed".
Bhushan also requested the governments of all states and Union Territories to help the Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) in garnering the support of hospitals and healthcare providers across the country for the path-breaking mission.
The objective is to improve access for the most vulnerable, unreached sections of the population and holistically address healthcare by covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, Bhushan said.
Ayushman Bharat Deputy CEO Dinesh Arora said the mission provides financial protection to 10.74 crore deprived rural families and identified occupational categories of urban workers' families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. It provides a cover for cashless hospitalization services of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.
The State Health Agencies (SHA) will start empaneling private and public healthcare service providers and facilities through State Empanelment Committees (SEC). At the district and block level, workshops will be held to brief on empanelment criteria, packages, processes and queries.
Facilities undertaking defined speciality packages will be required to satisfy additional requirements.
Specific criteria are outlined for cardiology and cardio-thoracic vascular services, cancer care, neurosurgery, burns, plastic and reconstructive surgery, neonatal/paediatric surgery, polytrauma, nephrology and urology surgery.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
