Patients holding Ayushman cards will now also get free OPD services in private hospitals’ outpatient departments. In some private hospitals, instead of completely free treatment under the Ayushman card, only discounted rates will be available. Uttar Pradesh is the first state to offer this facility.
The State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services (SACHIS), which manages Ayushman services in the state, has developed a hospital appointment system. Through this, beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will be able to access OPD services via the state helpline. Under this system, patients can call the helpline to book appointments for private hospitals’ OPD.
In the first phase, 180 private hospitals affiliated with Ayushman Bharat have been selected. Of these, around 20 hospitals will provide free OPD services to Ayushman cardholders with prior appointments, while the rest will offer a 20–50% discount on OPD fees. For this, the concerned private hospitals have signed agreements with SACHIS. In the next phase, more private hospitals will be included in the scheme.
Five Types of OPD Included
- The new arrangement covers five types of OPD. General patients will be treated in General OPD. Specialty OPDs will cover heart, kidney, and gastro patients. Elective OPD will cater to patients undergoing knee replacement, delivery, and cataract treatment. Follow-up OPD will be for patients coming for a second visit, and Emergency OPD will handle accidental/emergency cases.
- Hospitals will register patients visiting these OPDs who require admission under the scheme and provide them all facilities free of cost. The respective hospitals will give discounts on OPD fees to those who do not require admission.
Call the Helpline Number
Ayushman cardholders can call the helpline number 1800-1800-4444, mention the hospital and doctor of their choice, and the call center representative will connect them directly to the hospital’s appointment team via conference call. The hospital will share the available slots, and the appointment will be booked. On the scheduled date and time, patients need to carry their Ayushman card to the hospital, where treatment will begin.
Efforts to Provide Better Services
SACHIS Chief Executive Officer Archana Verma said that the state is making efforts to provide better facilities to Ayushman patients. As part of this strategy, the government has engaged private hospitals to offer discounted OPD services, and 180 hospitals have been included in the first phase.
