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Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and implementation of revised Schedule M (related to quality drug production) and pharma marketing code may be on the priority lists of the health ministry and the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), as Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is set to lead a new coalition government.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the flagship health care insurance scheme of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, is set to receive a concerted push from the health ministry under the new government.
According to sources, the scheme, touted as the world’s largest health protection programme, may see an expansion of coverage.
The BJP, in its manifesto, had said that if elected back to power, the party will expand the scheme to cover senior citizens and transgenders.
Hospitals have complained of delays in reimbursement related to the scheme. Ironing out these differences and securing more funding for the scheme could emerge as major challenges.
The health ministry formed a 16-member committee in March this year to look into the implementation of the scheme and oversee progress in beneficiary identification, hospitalisation and modes of implementation.
According to sources, implementation of the revised Schedule M, which includes good manufacturing practices guidelines to ensure manufacturing of quality drugs, is on the priority list of the Department of Pharmaceuticals that comes under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. Schedule M prescribes good manufacturing practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical products.
The process has already begun on this, but one challenge could be ensuring compliance with the scheme, monitoring the tens of thousands of small and big pharma companies, as well as the litigations that may arise as a result.