Jackson Tayeng

ITANAGAR, Jul 7: With the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) nearing its one year completion on August 15 next which envisaged to provide an annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakh to each family of the state, any common citizen must be feeling the urge to have a fresh look at its outreach, acceptability and popularity graph.

And after a survey-based assessment it has transpired that even if after nearly one year since its launch, CMAAY has somehow not been able to percolate to the common masses with that desired level of efficacy for which it was intended, with large number of people from remote villages still unaware of its existence. It can be recalled that this flagship social welfare scheme was launched with much fanfare by CM Pema Khandu on August 15 last year and somehow owes its legacy to Chief Minister's Universal Health Insurance Scheme (CMUHIS) which was unveiled by the then Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Tuki in November 2014 with an aim to provide cashless health benefit up to Rs.2 lakhs as insurance coverage per household per annum to every family of the state, both APST and Non-APST. Within a short span of the time, CMUHIS proved to be a constructive effort and gained momentum with at least 2 lakh families enrolling to get the benefits. But in spite of popularity, it got mired in controversies and met an ‘untimely death’ with the downfall of Tuki from his position as CM. However, after much research and development, it was re-launched with a different structure and re-emerged with a new name of Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY).
When contacted, Deputy CEO-CMAAY Dr. Nabam Peter informed that at least 74,991 families (3,28,052 individuals) have been enrolled and approved for the scheme out of which 1098 have been registered to avail benefits in different empanelled hospitals. 451 patients have already availed benefits and another 647 patients are presently undergoing treatment under CMAAY. When asked about the points that make CMAAY more attractive than CMUHIS, the Deputy CEO said that CMAAY is an assurance without any third party interference to provide coverage for meeting expenses of hospitalization and surgical procedures up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Any APST family members, a government employee and Non-APST with residential proof of Arunachal Pradesh can avail the benefits.

A citizen can enrol their family through a website or Mobile App (Arogya Arunachal) and in off-line take the help of District Coordinator in their concern districts. Moreover, if a patient hasn’t enrolled for CMAAY then also he/she can avail the benefits instantly during his/her admission in the empanelled hospital, provided he/she has to inform the Arogya Mitra centre before admission  and subsequently get enrolled  with Aadhaar and  APST  certificate for CMAAY. This scheme doesn’t provide reimbursement but provides free coverage for meeting expenses of hospitalization and surgical procedures,  clarified the  Deputy CEO  while informing  that in the first phase two government hospitals- Bakin Pertin  General Hospital Pasighat and TRIHMS-Naharlahun  were empanelled in the state  along with 17 other hospitals outside the state in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Efforts are being made to empanel hospital like NEIGRIHMS, RK Mission Itanagar and other private hospitals in metro cities in the second phase, he added.

Further, responding to query on the details of treatment benefits,  Deputy CEO  stated that patients can get benefit in 1394 categories including Organ Transplant under CMAAY and PMJAY, excluding OPD benefit. However, the scheme is facing challenges as after a breach of trust between private hospitals, Government and Insurance agencies in the last scheme(CMUHIS) most of the private hospitals in the state and outside are indecisive to join CMAAY and only two government hospitals have been empanelled as of now, he admitted. Moreover, the most significant challenge to run the scheme smoothly is the availability of fund which is in the tune of at least Rs 50 crore annually to cover the targeted 3 lakh number of families, he divulged.
Interestingly, as per inside report, no fresh amount has been sanctioned for CMAAY for the current year after its launch and the fund allotted under the previous scheme (CHUHIS) is actually being used for its continuance. But it needs little retelling that CMAAY could be one of the most momentous schemes as it is intended for the common people and can aptly supplement BJP’s mission of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash’.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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