Empaneled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY-GJAY) have received clear and firm directions: set up round-the-clock help desks, deliver free emergency treatment under the Pradhan Mantri RAHAT scheme, and complete integration with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — or face financial consequences.
During a review meeting with private empaneled hospitals, the Chief Executive Officer of the State Health Assurance Society (SHAS), Dr. Brundha D., reiterated these mandatory requirements. She stressed that every hospital must integrate its Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), ABHA-based patient medical records, healthcare facility registry, and health professional registry with the ABDM platform by 31 August this year.
Failure to meet the deadline will result in the withholding of incentives under the Ayushman scheme. Persistent non-compliance could even lead to de-empanelment.
“Every empaneled hospital must set up a clearly visible AB-PMJAY Help Desk near the main entrance and deploy adequate numbers of Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras (PMAMs) so that the desk remains functional 24 hours a day,” Dr. Brundha directed. These Arogya Mitras will identify and register cardholders, explain available treatment packages, and provide end-to-end assistance to beneficiaries. Sample designs of the help desks were also shared with hospital representatives.
The push for digital integration under ABDM promises a major convenience for patients. Once implemented, individuals will no longer need to carry bulky medical files or old reports. When a patient is referred from one hospital to another, complete treatment history, investigation reports, CT scans, MRI images, and other diagnostic data can be transferred instantly and securely.
Hospitals were also instructed to fully operationalise the Pradhan Mantri RAHAT (PM-RAHAT) scheme. Any motor vehicle accident victim brought to the hospital within 24 hours of the accident must receive free emergency treatment for up to seven days, with a cashless entitlement of up to Rs 1.5 lakh. In addition, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) cardholders are to be provided free treatment as per prescribed guidelines. Importantly, billing for both PM-RAHAT and CAPF cases is already integrated with the Ayushman portal, simplifying the claims process.
The review meeting was attended by Additional Secretary-cum-Joint Chief Executive Officer, SHAS, Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Director Dr. Bishnu Prasad Mahapatra, and other senior officials, who briefed hospital representatives on the operational aspects of the schemes.
With these directives, Odisha’s health authorities have sent a strong message: patient convenience, cashless access, and digital readiness are non-negotiable under the state’s flagship health assurance programmes.
