The Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Abhiyan (MJPJAY), Maharashtra’s flagship health scheme, will see its biggest upgrade yet since its inception in 2012, with the annual premium surging by 60% to over Rs 3,000 crore. The revamped scheme is set to launch on July 1, extending universal health coverage to all citizens of the state. MJPJAY 2.0 will cover every state resident with a valid ration card and domicile certificate. The coverage amount per family has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The number of medical procedures covered has expanded from 996 to 1,356, and the number of empaneled hospitals has grown from 1,000 to 1,900.
Rising demand and improved hospital inclusion
According to Ramesh Chavan, CEO of the State Health Assurance Society (SHAS), the scheme has seen a 70% increase in surgeries performed over the past five years. The state has finalised United India Assurance as the insurance provider and will pay a premium of Rs 1,300 per family for an estimated 12.3 crore families, as quoted by news agency TOI.
Efforts to improve access and quality
SHAS is evaluating 1,600 applications for the additional 900 empanelment slots, with 50% of the new hospitals being public. In Mumbai, several hospitals, including SevenHills, have applied to join the scheme. However, there is still a need for higher distribution in less privileged districts and to eliminate extra cash demands from beneficiaries.
Monitoring and integration with Ayushman Bharat
To ensure efficient service utilisation and prevent misuse, SHAS plans to engage a third-party agency using AI and data analytics. Alongside MJPJAY, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) operates in Maharashtra, providing coverage to 83 lakh families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011.
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