Karnataka government will implement AB PMJAY CM's Ark Scheme with the objective of providing universal health coverage to eligible beneficiaries in the state. This is to expand the scope of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) related procedures.
Malnutrition among children under five years continues to remain one of the most significant public health challenges, significantly contributing to under five mortality making it a significant public health emergency.
As per NFHS-5 survey, the State has an estimated 8.4% severe acute malnutrition and 19.5% moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) burden, requiring early identification, referral, and appropriate management annually.
This proposal seeks to institutionalise mandatory admission and incentivise private sector participation through (Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) under the aegis of Karnataka health and family welfare department to supplement existing government efforts to address malnutrition.
The procedure codes for treatment of severe acute malnutrition are available as a government reserved package under simple secondary procedures. Now it highlights the need to expand the scope of treatment by enabling empanelled private hospitals to provide services, subject to availability of required facilities, infrastructure, equipment and trained human resources as prescribed under applicable guidelines. The District Empanelment Committee (DEC) will assess and certify the eligibility of private hospitals for provision of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre services as per guidelines prescribed by National Health Mission (NHM).
The proposal provides mechanism of screening and referral of SAM children by the empanelled private facilities to government district hospital, Taluka hospital, government medical colleges. If the government hospitals with Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre is unable to provide the services, then such cases shall be referred to empanelled private facility with NRC for treatment as per prescribed packages.
The programme outlines the eligibility for admission and treatment of children as per applicable guidelines under National Health Mission. The procedure package rate is specified as Rs. 1,800 per day for treatment at private empanelled facility and Rs. 900 per day at government facility up to a maximum of 14 days. The package includes inpatient care, treatment, special diet, monitoring, drugs and consumables, investigations, daily wages as prescribed by nutrition division of National Health Mission and other related components, said the officials in the health department.
The government order has delegated powers to the health department for inclusion of new procedures under AB-Ark Scheme, which permits for approval of such new procedures subject to 5% of the total annual budget.
The severe acute malnutrition procedure code, presently available under AB PMJAY CM's Ark Scheme as a government reserved package, will be opened to eligible empanelled private hospitals with NRC, on a pilot basis.
Eligibility for screening, referral, admission and treatment will be as per Priority Household (PHH) and Non-Priority Household beneficiaries will be covered as per existing scheme norms. There is an overall financial ceiling of Rs. 2.00 crore under the pilot project, said the officials. |