NHA Launches HEM 2.0 to Strengthen Hospital Verification Under AB-PMJAY

New guidelines mandate private hospitals to undergo physical verification, submit original photos, exact coordinates, and on-site official inspection for empanelment.

The National Health Authority (NHA) has introduced an upgraded version of the Hospital Engagement Module, HEM 2.0, to enhance the verification process for hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

This initiative aims to ensure the authenticity and quality of healthcare providers offering services under the scheme.

Under the new guidelines, private hospitals seeking empanelment are required to undergo physical verification.

This includes the submission of original photographs, precise latitude-longitude coordinates of the facility, and verification by an on-site official to confirm the inspection.

Public hospitals with inpatient services, however, are deemed empanelled automatically, as per the existing policy.

HEM 2.0 also introduces a feature for periodic reviews to maintain accurate hospital information.

This ensures that empanelled hospitals consistently meet the necessary standards and provide quality care to AB-PMJAY beneficiaries.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism Strengthened

As part of the empanelment conditions, hospitals are obligated to provide services to eligible AB-PMJAY beneficiaries.

If a hospital fails to deliver these services, beneficiaries can file grievances through multiple channels, including the Centralized Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS), the national call center (14555), emails, letters to State Health Authorities (SHAs), or through district-level offices.

A three-tier grievance redressal system has been established at the district, state, and national levels.

Each tier is managed by dedicated nodal officers and Grievance Redressal Committees to ensure timely resolution of complaints.

The NHA has empowered SHAs to take stringent actions against hospitals found guilty of malpractice, including penalties, suspension, de-empanelment, issuing warning letters, or filing FIRs in cases of fraud.

These measures reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and quality healthcare delivery under AB-PMJAY, benefitting millions of citizens across the country.

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