The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, which has won global acclaim for its highly successful healthcare programmes such as Mohalla clinics and online OPD registrations, is refurbishing its health card programme by incorporating its ambitious universal insurance scheme into it and linking it up with an advanced Hospital Management Information System (HMIS).

The card, which was earlier called Aam Admi Health Card, is renamed to Mukhya Mantri Health Card and would be launched later this year. It is expected to benefit 1.8 crore residents of Delhi.

The data available in the modified card would be entered in HMIS and the beneficiary could be able to use it to avail insurance cover under Universal Healthcare Insurance Scheme of Delhi. It will also include a QR code which will enable it to store huge amounts of data.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had invited expression of interest (EOI) from companies and agencies to design and develop the software for Aadhaar-based verification and issuance of the health card earlier this month. The deadline for submitting the EOI is February 28.

The idea to create an HMIS to integrate all the government hospitals and Mohalla clinics was floated by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a healthcare sector review meeting recently. The plan is to set up a dedicated call centre to facilitate the patients and guide them to nearest hospitals and out-patient departments.

The card-linked insurance scheme is cheered by many non-profits in the health sector. The family insurance scheme was announced by Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain, who is also the chairperson of the Society for Universal Healthcare in Delhi, recently. “It is expected to provide a cover of Rs. 1 lakh for most of the illnesses that require hospital admission and up to Rs. 4 lakh for critical illnesses. It’ll substantially reduce residents’ out-of-pocket medical expenses,” a healthcare activist pointed out.

An eight-member society is advising the state government on the insurance plan. Six experts from health insurance, economics, management, entrepreneurs and NGOs are part of the society. According to official sources, the society will digitise the health data of citizens and empanel public and private hospitals, labs and healthcare providers.

But health data digitisation plan leaves many sceptical. “It would be highly problematic if it is collection of medical record data. It could be sold to private companies. Just like Aadhaar, the enrollment in the health card would be through a private company and there are privacy implications as they can leak or further use the data,” Co-convener of All India Drugs Action Network (Aidan) Malini Aisola told Pharmabiz.

Though its flagship venture, Mohalla clinics, is praised by one and all, the health department is not resting on its laurels. The government is keen on taking the success story forward with a slew of fresh measures. It will soon set up a five-member managing committee in each Mohalla clinic with 100 volunteers to manage and monitor the work. The volunteers will be given the task of managing the entire work in the clinics at an annual honorarium of Rs. 3 lakh. Doctors and support staff at Mohalla clinics are not paid salary but rewarded with fixed incentives.

The government claims that Mohalla clinics provide consultation, diagnostics and medicines for free at a cost to the government of Rs. 100 per patient. In contrast, only a consultation at a major government hospital costs the state exchequer more than Rs. 1,000.