Digital Health Cards, Standardized ICU Rates, Jharkhand Announces Major Ayushman Upgrades

He further informed that the Jharkhand government is preparing to fix standardized rates for ICU, NICU, and CCU services in private hospitals.

Jharkhand health minister Irfan Ansari has recently announced that all Ayushman beneficiaries will soon receive digital health cards to streamline verification, reduce paperwork, and ensure uninterrupted treatment at government and private empanelled hospitals.

The government is also speeding up efforts to expand health security coverage to Rs 15 lakh under the Ayushman–Abua (Jharkhand's Mukhyamantri Abua Swasthya Suraksha Yojana) health scheme.

The announcement was made during a one-day orientation programme under the Ayushman Bharat–Mukhyamantri Abua Swasthya Suraksha Yojana and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

As per reports, Health Minister Ansari also issued a clear warning to private hospitals, calling the act of withholding a deceased patient’s body over billing disputes inhumane and punishable.

He said any hospital engaging in such actions will be sealed immediately and reminded institutions that healthcare must be treated as a service rooted in humanity, not purely commercial interest.

He further informed that the Jharkhand government is preparing to fix standardized rates for ICU, NICU, and CCU services in private hospitals. This move, aligned with Supreme Court guidelines, is expected to curb arbitrary billing and offer financial protection to poor and middle-income families.

Ansari said, "CT-scan and MRI services will soon be operational in all districts and referral hospitals. Strengthening the Abua health card is also a key priority to ensure quality healthcare reaches every household in Jharkhand."

During the programme, several institutions were honoured for their performance under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Ranchi Sadar Hospital was recognised as one of the top-performing hospitals nationally, while Koderma Sadar Hospital and private institutions, including Medanta and Raj Hospital, received awards for delivering quality services.

Additional chief secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said, "Nearly 70 lakh residents are insured under the scheme, with 80–85% of the population currently benefiting from govt-supported health protection."

He directed all private and government hospitals to ensure timely data uploads, adequate specialist availability, and improved patient care quality.

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