Dental treatment to be included in Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana: Health Minister Tanaji Sawant

The MPJAY is a state health insurance policy under the revamped health scheme, wherein a health cover of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to estimated 12 crore citizens in Maharashtra.

On Monday, Tambe raised the challenges people face while availing the benefits of the health scheme. “Attempts are also made to take advantage of the scheme by showing bogus patients. This raises questions about how the government will take suitable action,” Tambe said.

Tambe pointed out that of the 350 talukas in Maharashtra, the scheme has not been implemented in 137 talukas yet. “There is not a single hospital or a dispensary under the scheme in these 137 talukas. These need urgent prioritisation. Additionally, there are numerous complaints regarding hospitals showing fake patients. However, no concrete action has been taken against these hospitals yet. Will the government make any decision regarding this?” asked Tambe.

Lauding Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the state government, Tambe said the scheme cover was extended up to Rs 5 lakh without any restrictions on the person availing its benefits. “As a result, from poor to rich, everyone has reaped the benefits,” he said.

While responding to Tambe’s questions, health minister Tanaji Sawant said, “The Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana initially covered 1,000 hospitals. The health cover under the scheme has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The conditions for availing scheme benefits have also been removed. Earlier, 1,356 treatments were included in this scheme. Hereon, dental treatments will also be included. Additionally, hospitals will be set up in the 137 talukas immediately where there are no hospitals.”

The state government had taken a decision vide GR dated July 28, 2023, to implement MJPJAY for all families in the state and expanded the scope of the existing scheme. Accordingly, the integrated Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana & Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana—the the largest government funded cashless healthcare scheme in India—is being implemented from July 1 this year.

The scheme covers all population of Maharashtra and provides health coverage of Rs.5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare requiring hospitalization.