Ayushman holders to get treatment at cantonment hosp across state

Lucknow: Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh (UP) will soon be able to receive treatment at all cantonment hospitals across the state.Govt agency, SACHIS (State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services) is preparing to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with 12 cantonment hospitals to bring them under the ‘Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana'.At present, ‘Ayushman' card holders are already receiving treatment at the cantonment hospital in Prayagraj. Building on this model, the govt plans to extend the facility to cantonment hospitals in Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Bareilly, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Shahjahanpur, Mathura, Agra, Fatehpur, Jhansi and Babina once the MoUs are signed. SACHIS additional CEO, Dr Pooja Yadav, said the collaboration will improve access to specialist care for serious illnesses. She added that patients suffering from critical diseases will also be provided a free pick-and-drop facility so that transportation does not become a barrier to treatment.Dr Yadav said that once the agreements are finalised, they will be integrated into the ‘Ayushman' online portal to ensure transparent processes for treatment, billing and claim settlement.