RTI for Uttar Pradesh Health Department: PMJAY, Ayushman UP & Government Hospitals

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, home to more than 24 crore people spread across 75 districts — and the scale of its public health system reflects this. The state operates over 800 Community Health Centres (CHCs), more than 3,500 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and dozens of district and divisional hospitals, anchored by national medical institutions such as King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), and the Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS). Despite this infrastructure, UP consistently records among the highest maternal mortality rates (MMR) and infant mortality rates (IMR) in India — districts such as Shravasti, Bahraich, and Balrampur in the Terai belt face some of the worst health outcome indicators in the country.

At the centre of the state's health financing is PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana — Ayushman Bharat), which provides cashless hospitalisation cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year to over 10 crore families nationally. UP has augmented this with the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana (MNJAY), extending coverage to additional state-specific beneficiary categories beyond the SECC list. The state also relies on UPMSC (Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation) to procure and distribute medicines, surgical items, and diagnostics to the government hospital network — making UPMSC procurement records a key accountability target.

The National Health Mission (NHM) UP component funds frontline health workers (ASHAs, ANMs), immunisation drives, maternal health programmes, and nutrition interventions. Yet systemic challenges — ghost beneficiaries in health scheme rolls, drug stock-outs at PHCs, delayed PMJAY claim payments to empanelled hospitals, and inadequate maternal care infrastructure in high-IMR districts — make RTI an essential accountability mechanism for patients, families, civil society organisations, and journalists.

What Information Can You Seek?

• PMJAY enrollment and claims data: District-wise eligible families, Ayushman cards issued, claims submitted and approved, rejection reasons, and hospital-wise reimbursement amounts
• Drug availability and UPMSC procurement: Stock registers at PHC/CHC/district hospital level, UPMSC indent and delivery records, stock-out incident logs, and quality-testing reports
• Hospital inspection and complaint records: CMO inspection reports, patient complaint registers, adverse event logs, and disciplinary action taken against hospital staff
• Maternal and child health data: District-wise MMR, IMR, institutional delivery rates, immunisation coverage, and NHM UP targets versus achievements
• State health scheme beneficiary data: MNJAY beneficiary lists, scheme amounts disbursed, pending claim status, and exclusion criteria applied at district level
• Health workforce and infrastructure records: Doctor and ANM posting records, vacancies at CHC/PHC level, ambulance availability (108 service), and facility upgrade expenditure

How to File RTI

Step 1 — Identify the correct CPIO. For state-level policy, PMJAY scheme data, or UPMSC procurement records, file with the CPIO at the Directorate General of Medical & Health Services, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow. For district hospital, CHC, or PHC-specific records, file with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the concerned district.

Step 2 — File online. Use the Central RTI Online portal at rtionline.gov.in. Select the Uttar Pradesh state government and the appropriate health department office. Pay the ₹10 fee online. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee.

Step 3 — File offline. Send a written application by registered/speed post to the CPIO with a crossed Indian Postal Order (IPO) for ₹10. Retain the postal receipt, IPO counterfoil, and application copy.

Step 4 — Track your application. Note the acknowledgement number and follow up if no response is received within 30 days.

Key RTI Act Provisions

The Medical, Health & Family Welfare Department of UP and all its subordinate offices — district hospitals, CMO offices, CHCs, PHCs, and UPMSC — are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

• Section 6: Governs application filing; no reason needs to be stated.
• Section 7(1): Response within 30 days of receipt.
• Section 7(1) proviso: 48-hour response if information concerns life or liberty — relevant for emergency drug availability or critical treatment denial matters.
• Section 20: Penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on a defaulting CPIO.

First Appeal

If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address the First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority — typically the Additional Director General or Joint Director, Health — in the same department. No fee is required for a First Appeal.

Second Appeal

If the First Appellate Authority also fails to respond satisfactorily, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act with the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (UPSIC) in Lucknow — the correct appellate body for all UP state public authorities. Do not file the Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC), which has no jurisdiction over state health department records. UPSIC can order disclosure, impose penalties on the defaulting CPIO, and recommend disciplinary action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which office handles RTI for UP Health Department? The State Public Information Officer at the Directorate General of Medical & Health Services in Lucknow handles state-level RTI. For hospital-specific or district matters, file with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the respective district.

Can RTI reveal PMJAY claim rejection details in UP? Yes. RTI can provide claim rejection reasons, hospital-wise approval rates, pre-authorization denial data, and whether the correct treatment package was applied — helping patients or families contest wrongful rejections.

How can RTI help with drug shortages at UP government hospitals? RTI can reveal stock registers at PHC/CHC/district hospitals, UPMSC procurement orders and delivery records, stock-out incident logs, and disciplinary action taken against officials responsible for medicine shortages.

Can RTI help identify PMJAY-eligible families excluded in UP? Yes. RTI can provide village/panchayat-wise PMJAY enrollment data, families listed as eligible but not enrolled, reasons for exclusion, and whether Ayushman cards were distributed or pending in any block.