Patients visiting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run hospitals will soon be able to avail cashless treatment through the Integrated Patients Healthcare Scheme Assistance (IPHSA) system, the civic body announced on Friday.
Currently, major and peripheral civic hospitals, along with dispensaries under the public health department, provide medical services primarily through the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) and the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJY). With the rollout of IPHSA, the Mumbai civic body plans to extend the benefits of Central and state government healthcare schemes to cover more treatments, including surgeries, free of cost.
The tender process for implementing IPHSA through the public health department is already underway. The system will help hospital administrations coordinate with patients and ensure seamless access to cashless medical services. It also aims to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure of patients.
Schemes covered under this initiative include Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY), Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG), and the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIC), along with MJPJ.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already announced an increase in the maximum treatment cost coverage under MJPJY and the inclusion of additional health service packages.
The civic body noted that the IPHSA-based services in Mumbai’s civic-run hospitals are aligned with the Maharashtra Government’s policy and will provide further benefits to patients in the future.
According to officials, the system will enable the effective implementation of Central and state health schemes in civic hospitals and will also strengthen the overall healthcare services offered by BMC by ensuring significant financial support to patients.
