Focus on a robust mechanism to implement CMAAY: Chief Minister Pema Khandu

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ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said that the main objective of the Chief Minister's Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) in the long run should be to focus on and put in place robust preventive measures from the data collected while implementing the scheme.

Chairing the second Governing Council meeting of the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Society (CMAAS) here, Khandu said that the name of the scheme itself mentions 'Arogya Arunachal' that means disease-free Arunachal that could be achieved only through preventive measures and a healthy lifestyle.

CMAAS is the nodal agency for implementing the CMAAY that envisages providing cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals to citizens of the state. Beneficiaries under the scheme include all Arunachalee citizens and state government employees.

Congratulating CMAAS Chief Executive Officer Dr Nabam Peter and his team under the guidance of Health Principal Secretary and Secretary for ensuring the beneficial scheme reaches to maximum beneficiaries, Khandu said a target must be set and achieved to provide the facility to every eligible citizen of the state besides roping in as many hospitals as possible on need basis. Pema Khandu assured support to the CMAAS and urged the principal secretary and the secretary of health to coordinate with the chief secretary, planning commissioner and the IT secretary to make the scheme hassle-free for the common citizens as well as the empanelled hospitals in a transparent manner.

He suggested putting in place ways and means to ease the enrollment process of beneficiaries.

To the concern raised on aids given from the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF) for treatment in the existence of CMAAY, Khandu asked the officials to review and suggest a way forward, official sources informed here.

He, however, maintained that diseases that require processes like organ transplant are quite costly and many poor patients may not be able to avail it and suggested that such patients may be allowed to avail benefits under CMAAY as well as CMRF with recommendations from the nodal agency.

Giving a brief report on the scheme, Dr Peter informed that CMAAY along with the central government scheme of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, launched in 2018, has enrolled 1.01 lakh families so far.

An enrolled family is entitled to a sum of Rs 5 lakhs per year for cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals. To date 81 hospitals have been empanelled of which 27 are out of Arunachal Pradesh, 15 being in neighbouring Assam.

As per records, the top procedures utilized by beneficiaries are for LSCS, cataract, cholecystectomy, appendicectomy and chemotherapy.

Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun, near here, stands at the top in giving free and cashless treatment to the most number of beneficiaries under the scheme followed by Bakin Pertin Hospital at Pasighat in East Siang district, Rama Krishna Mission Hospital here, B Baruah Cancer Institute Guwahati and Khan Drowa Zangmo District Hospital at Tawang, the sources added.

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