On January 23rd 2023, ACCESS Health International facilitated a stakeholder consultation workshop for the Government of Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with the State Agency for Comprehensive Health Insurance and Integrated Services (SACHIS)-the state agency for the implantation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)-and NATHEALTH-a federation of healthcare providers-to boost private sector participation for healthcare excellence in the state.
Over 100 participants from various private sector partners in India participated in the workshop-including from industry bodies, private multi-speciality hospitals, pharma and diagnostic companies, and healthcare and social enterprises.
Through the course of the day-long workshop, a plethora of key insights emerged-particularly those pertaining to pivotal investment prospects for the private sector in the Uttar Pradesh healthcare landscape. The Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare presented the Government’s Proposed Private Sector Investment Policy that touched upon Viability Gap Funding, land provisions, and other crucial elements to encourage building more healthcare infrastructure in the state.
The value proposition of PM-JAY in Uttar Pradesh was also discussed in detail, with the CEO of SACHIS elucidating upon the benefits for private service providers of participating in the insurance scheme and building specialities-especially in areas that have sparse healthcare facilities. The existing Public-Private Partnerships in the state and the avenues for forging new ones were also discussed.
The day’s proceedings offered a steady stream of insights with the participants from the private sector sharing their learnings to leverage for a fortified healthcare system in the state. From suggestions like bolstering telemedicine services and AI-backed solutions that can help beneficiaries seek treatment even in remote areas to hospitals declaring their intent to join PM-JAY and encouraging others to follow suit. Capacity building of medical personnel, effective healthcare delivery models, and strengthening primary-care facilities were some of areas of discussion that were pursued.