Under the Ayushman scheme, it has been made mandatory to refer patients to a government hospital for free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. In view of corona infection, patients were allowed to be admitted directly to private hospitals. But after the infection has subsided, now the system has been changed. Chief Executive Officer of Ayushman Yojana, Arunendra Singh Chauhan said that only after referring the patients undergoing treatment under Ayushman Yojana from government hospitals, they will be able to get treatment in empaneled private hospitals. 

He said that this arrangement was in place since the beginning of the scheme, but due to corona infection in the middle, this system was relaxed so that patients could get treatment at the time of infection at the earliest. He said that the corona infection has reduced a lot, so now this system has been changed again. 

Referral not mandatory for government employees: State Health Agency has made referral mandatory for the Ayushman scheme for free treatment of Rs 5 lakh. But under the cashless state health scheme being run for government employees and pensioners, referral is not mandatory for treatment and patients will be able to go directly to empaneled private hospitals for treatment.

Direct treatment in NABH hospitals 
However, patients will get the facility of direct treatment in NABH accredited private hospitals of the state. Apart from this, the Ayushman card holder can also go directly to the medical colleges and district hospitals of the mountain and get his treatment done. Referral will not be required for treatment in these hospitals. There are only three NABH private hospitals in the state, so for treatment in most of the private hospitals, people have to first get referral from the government hospital. 

Biometric has also been made mandatory  
After the corona infection has reduced, now the system of biometric has also been implemented again for the patients. Under the scheme, the patients coming for treatment will have biometrics so that the correct information of the patients undergoing treatment can remain with the hospitals. The system was changed in view of the emergency situation during the Corona period. 

44 lakh people have golden card 
In Uttarakhand, close to 70 lakh people come under the purview of Ayushman scheme for free treatment of five lakh rupees. But till now, golden cards of 44 lakh people have been made. In the last two years, a large number of people are taking advantage of the Ayushman scheme in the state and the government has spent crores on the treatment of patients. 

People were exempted at the time of corona infection. But now the infection has reduced a lot. Therefore, the system of treatment has been implemented again only after being referred from government hospitals. 
Arunendra Singh Chouhan Chief Executive Officer, Ayushman