TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 15, 2025: Chhattisgarh has earned national recognition for its exemplary performance under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), being declared the “Best Performing State” for its outstanding work in ensuring zero pendency and strengthening transparency in healthcare services. The award was presented to Dr. Priyanka Shukla, Chief Executive Officer of the State Nodal Agency (SNA), and Mr. Dharmendra Gahwai, Project Director (Operations), by Mr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), during the NHA Conclave held in Bhopal.
The recognition highlights the state’s consistent focus on efficiency, accountability, and the delivery of quality health services to beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat initiative. For the first time, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme was included as a key agenda item at the recent Collectors’ Conference chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who directed all district administrations to review the scheme regularly and ensure its effective implementation.
The State Nodal Agency has undertaken a series of robust initiatives in recent months to strengthen the functioning of PM-JAY. These include field audits to identify and eliminate suspicious claims, reducing claim processing time, conducting sensitivity and training programs for stakeholders, fortifying the State Anti-Fraud Unit (SAFU), and creating regular channels of communication with empanelled healthcare providers (EHCPs).
In early 2025, the NHA’s review had flagged a relatively high number of suspicious claims in Chhattisgarh. In response, the SNA developed a rapid action plan to restore transparency and accountability. Between January and February 2025, the Health Department conducted surprise inspections at 52 hospitals, with penalties imposed on 45 institutions for non-compliance — the highest number of actions ever taken in the state. Over 32,000 field audits were completed, curbing fraudulent practices and ensuring fair claim settlements.
The Health Secretary and CEO (SNA) held multiple district and state-level reviews to monitor progress. PM-JAY has since become a permanent agenda item at the quarterly review meetings chaired by Health Secretary Amit Kataria, while monthly district-level meetings led by the SNA now ensure continuous evaluation. A daily monitoring mechanism has also been implemented to track achievements and provide timely feedback to districts.
To build trust and improve coordination, the Health Department has been holding regular meetings with representatives from the Indian Medical Association and private hospitals. A recent stakeholder consultation with NHA experts addressed operational issues and introduced hospitals to the latest procedural updates under the scheme.
These concerted efforts have produced significant results. The number of suspicious claims has dropped from over 2,000 per week to fewer than 500, and the average claim approval time has reduced to 7–10 days.
According to National Health Authority data, 97% of hospitals registered under PM-JAY in Chhattisgarh are currently active, the highest in the country. This rate stands at only 62% in Madhya Pradesh and 52% nationally, underscoring the confidence of hospitals in Chhattisgarh’s transparent and efficient system.
Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal congratulated the department and emphasized that PM-JAY remains a top administrative priority. He said that regular state- and district-level reviews are ensuring better outcomes and quicker service delivery. “The state government’s ultimate goal is to ensure that every eligible family receives quality, free, and respectable healthcare,” he stated.
He further added that Chhattisgarh’s recognition as the Best Performing State under PM-JAY is proof of its strong governance, proactive monitoring, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of its people — setting a new national benchmark for effective healthcare delivery.
