New Delhi: Recognising the highest number of available free treatments provided in the health sector, Kerala has been awarded 'Best Performing States' at the Arogya Manthan 2022.
The award was given during the celebration of the completion of four years of Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).
State Health Minister Veena George was awarded by the Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya at a function held in Delhi.
A press statement released by the Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that the health insurance scheme known as Ayushman Bharat-Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati (AB-KASP) is one of the most utilised insurance schemes in the health sector.
"Government Medical Colleges Kozhikode and Kottayam are leading in the highest number of scheme utilization in the country. The reason for choosing Kerala was that the scheme could benefit up to 180 patients per hour (maximum 3 patients per minute)."
"Rs 1636.07 crore have been spent in providing free treatment to 43.4 lakh persons since the formation of KASP. Currently, the service of the scheme is available in 200 government hospitals and 544 private hospitals in Kerala," it read.
Responding to getting the award on Twitter, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kerala's Public health soars to new heights as we won the award at #ArogyaManthan2022 for providing the highest number of free medical treatments. So far, through Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), Kerala has spent ₹1636.07 CR for the treatment of 43.4 lakh beneficiaries."
The Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskaar (Ayushman Excellence Awards) 2022 were also awarded to Andhra Pradesh (Top Performing State/UT), Parvathipuram Manyam in Andhra Pradesh (Top Performing District), District Hospital Dharwad in Karnataka (Top Performing Government Facility), Kerala, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Manipur, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh (Best Performing States), Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir (Best Performing UTs).
"There should be no space for fraud in AB-PMJAY which aims for the healthcare of the poorest of the society. We need to use all available technology tools to remove even the smallest scope for any fraud," Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said during the event.