About NHA
National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme called “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.” National Health Authority is the successor of the National Health Agency, which was functioning as a registered society since 23rd May, 2018. Pursuant to Cabinet decision for full functional autonomy, National Health Agency was reconstituted as the National Health Authority on 2nd January 2019, under Gazette Notification Registered No. DL –(N) 04/0007/2003-18.
NHA has been set-up to implement PM-JAY, as it is popularly known, at the national level. An attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with full functional autonomy, NHA is governed by a Governing Board chaired by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. It is headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, who manages its affairs. The CEO is the Ex-Office Member Secretary of the Governing Board.
To implement the scheme at the State level, State Health Agencies (SHAs) in the form of a society/trust have been set up by respective States. SHAs have full operational autonomy over the implementation of the scheme in the State including extending the coverage to non SECC beneficiaries.
Chief Executive Officer
A full time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, is appointed by Central Government at NHA. The CEO is the Ex-Officio Member Secretary to the Governing Board and has complete operational control over the NHA for implementation of PM-JAY. However, for all policy matters, the CEO reports to the Governing Board and works under their guidance. He exercises all administrative powers within the Authority and over its staff, delegated to him by the Governing Board. The CEO also exercises the financial power of a Secretary to the Government of India as envisaged under GFR and Financial Rules & regulations of Government of India.
Powers and functions of the CEO :- The day-to-day administration of the Authority. For this purpose, he shall report to the Chairperson of the Governing Board,
- Implementing the work programmes and decisions adopted by the Authority,
- Drawing up of proposal for the Governing Board’s decisions and work programmes,
- The preparation of the statement of the revenue and expenditure and the execution of the budget of the authority,
- Performing such other functions, or exercising such other powers, as may be specified by regulations,
- Ensure compliance to rules, procedure, regulations related to selection and recruitment of the staff for the Authority, as laid by the Governing Board; and
- Any other activities as assigned by the Government of India from time to time.
Dr. Indu Bhushan serves as the CEO of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB - PMJAY) and the National Health Authority (NHA), Government of India.
Dr. Bhushan is an ex-Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Indian Civil Services, 1983 Rajasthan cadre. He holds a Doctorate in Health Economics and a Master of Health Sciences from the Johns Hopkins University, USA. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU) and IIT Delhi where he completed his B. Tech and Post-Graduate Diploma, respectively. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Dr. Bhushan is a bureaucrat-turned-economist with a career spanning 35 years across a multitude of sectors. He served for nine years in the IAS prior to leaving government service. Thereafter, he worked as Senior Economist with the World Bank Group prior to moving to ADB. Until his appointment as CEO, AB - PMJAY, he served as Director General, East Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He has held multiple positions within ADB including Director General, Strategy and Policy Department and led ADB’s engagement with the People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan including management of $12.6 billion portfolio comprising of 113 projects. Dr. Bhushan administered and provided oversight to sectors like energy, environment, natural resources and agriculture, transport, public management, financial sector and regional cooperation, urban and social development. He also supervised ADB’s resident missions in the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia.
Dr. Bhushan lives in an empty nest in New Delhi, with his wife, Anjana, an ex-IAS officer, who works with the World Health Organisation (WHO). He has two daughters, Devika and Ambika, who are both medical doctors and live in the USA. He likes to play bridge and catch the latest movies and theatrical shows on the weekend.
Addl. Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Praveen Gedam is the Additional Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority (NHA) in the rank of Joint Secretary to Government of India. He is an Indian Administrative Service officer of 2002 batch, Maharashtra cadre. As second-in-command at NHA, he assists the CEO in its functioning and also supervises the work of various verticals and coordinates with ministries, organisations, State Governments and other stakeholders.
Addl. CEO's Profile
Dr. Praveen Gedam is a National Talent Search Scholar and MBBS doctor by education. He has held several important positions as a career bureaucrat and, prior to joining NHA, he was the Private Secretary to Hon’ble Minister of Railways and Coal. A go-getter by nature, Dr. Gedam has led institutions to their optimum level. Before joining Government of India, he served the Government of Maharashtra in various capacities. He was Transport Commissioner of Maharashtra, where he spearheaded a massive computerisation exercise involving all 50 offices under him and ensured computerization of database of more than 27 million vehicles and 30 million driving license holders of the state. Dr. Gedam has also served as the Municipal Commissioner of Nashik and Jalgaon, Collector of Solapur and Osmanabad, CEO of ZP Latur and Director of the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency.
At the cutting-edge field level, spanning over a decade in various parts of Maharashtra, Dr. Gedam was responsible for critical government interventions concerning socio-economic development, including those in public health. He is known for the turnaround in Maternal and Child Health indicators in Latur, one of the most backward districts of the state, due to targeted interventions, systematic medical check-ups and massive community mobilisation exercises. From 2006 to 2009, his 3 year mission led to a considerable increase in deliveries at hospitals which went up from 48% to 93%. There was also a fourfold reduction in the number of cases of severe malnutrition in children and a drive for medical check-up of 162,000 school children, out of which 1,327 underwent surgeries. He has also tied up with UNICEF to prepare micro-plans to ensure the long term sustainability of these initiatives.
In 2015, Dr. Gedam was handpicked at the 11th hour and entrusted with the task of organising and managing the mega-event of Kumbhmela in Nashik which is the third largest human congregation on earth. In the run up to the preparations, he led a team of thousands of officials, doctors and paramedics to take necessary steps for the prevention of any disease or disaster and also provide healthcare facilities that were availed by 19 million people. The mega event was a huge success setting an unprecedented record of zero-causality-zero-epidemic-zero-missing-person, a feat which drew the attention of top management institutions and research organisations.
In his off time, Dr. Gedam enjoys reading, travelling and photography.
Dy. Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Vipul Aggarwal is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Dy CEO) of the National Health Authority (NHA). He is the third highest officer in the organisational hierarchy and has been appointed by the Government of India to assist the CEO, NHA in managing the affairs of the organisation.
Dy. CEO’s Profile
Dr. Vipul Aggarwal is a serving Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of 2001 batch, Gujarat cadre. He is a medical doctor turned cop who is known to be a pragmatic and proactive officer with more than 19 years of work experience behind him. A meritorious student all his life, Dr. Aggarwal was the All India Topper in the Secondary School Examination (Class X). He graduated from the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College with a gold medal in forensic medicine. At the Sardar Vallabh Bhai National Police Academy (SVPNPA) he was the batch topper and the recipient of the coveted Home Minister’s Revolver and PM’s Baton for “Best All Round Officer Trainee.”
A committed knowledge seeker, Dr. Aggarwal has several diplomas and degrees under his belt. To name a few, he has a Master’s Degree in Police Management from Osmania University, a Master’s Degree in English Literature, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from IGNOU and is currently pursuing PhD in Human Resource Management from Gujarat University.
As a visionary officer and change driver, Dr. Aggarwal is accustomed to overcoming numerous and seemingly impossible challenges. A dedicated officer with well-earned promotions at prominent government departments, he has contributed immensely to ensure effective policing throughout Gujarat, support community involvement in crime prevention and provide correctional services to the society. He was the Superintendent of Police of Porbandar, Banaskantha and Dahod districts. In his last assignment, he served as the Joint Commissioner of Police (Admin) of Ahmedabad city, a position with immense administrative responsibilities, human resource and finance management. Apart from this, he has also served in Gujarat state health department as MD, NRHM and MD, Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Limited.