Stakeholders Strategize on Expanding Ayush Insurance Coverage
New Delhi, May 27, 2024: In a proactive move to extend Ayush treatments to all segments of society, stakeholders convened to deliberate on the regulatory framework and policy initiatives necessary for integrating Ayush treatments into health insurance schemes. The Ministry of Ayush organized a sensitization event at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), bringing together insurance companies and Ayush hospital owners to chart a path towards affordable Ayush healthcare for citizens.
The meeting was prompted by recent directives from the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDAI) to include Ayush treatments in health insurance coverage starting April 01, 2024. It aimed to bridge the gap between Ayush hospitals, healthcare providers, and insurance sector stakeholders, fostering a deeper understanding and facilitating access to Ayush healthcare.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, emphasized, “Our goal is to ensure universal access to Ayush treatments. The release of standard treatment guidelines by DGHS & Ayush (STG) is a significant milestone, facilitating seamless integration. This focus on accessibility is complemented by the remarkable growth in Ayush product manufacturing over the last decade.”
Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, remarked, “We are making significant strides in mainstreaming Ayush treatments. Our collaboration with insurance companies aims to enable cashless access to Ayush services through the TPA network. Today’s meeting is a crucial step towards realizing our vision of accessible and affordable Ayush treatments for all.”
Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, Chairman, Core Group of Experts for Insurance, Ministry of Ayush, stressed the need for a separate registry for Ayush hospitals. He recommended promoting Ayush HCO empanelment and adopting MoAyush approved Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and ICD-TM2 codes, while advocating for increased Ayush representation on key committees.
Rajiv Vasudevan, MD & CEO, Apollo AyurVAID Hospitals, highlighted the necessity of Ayush in addressing long-term diseases. He emphasized the transition from symptomatic relief to addressing root causes, underscoring the efficacy of Ayush treatments in palliative and end-of-life care.
The program featured discussions on insurance coverage in the Ayush sector, standard treatment guidelines, penetration of Ayush in the insurance sector, and onboarding of Ayush hospitals on the ROHINI platform for insurance coverage.
Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya, Adviser, Ministry of Ayush, outlined the ministry’s efforts to include Ayush interventions in Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), while Dr. A. Raghu, Deputy Director General (Ayush), stressed the need for a flat-rate design and classification based on disease and patient strength.
Key speakers included Prof. (Dr.) Anandaraman P. V., Mukund Kulkarni, Dr. Alka Kapoor, Yogananda Tadepalli, Amit Jain, Ram Natesan, and Rohit Gupta, among others.
This event marks a significant stride towards integrating traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, ensuring broader insurance coverage for Ayush treatments, and promoting overall health and well-being.
