Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Improving Healthcare in India
As a nation, India has made remarkable progress in several
areas, but healthcare has remained a challenge. Despite having a large
population, India spends only a fraction of what other countries spend on
healthcare. Furthermore, most of this expenditure is out-of-pocket, leaving
many people unable to afford the care they need. Recognizing these challenges,
the government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which aims to
provide affordable healthcare to millions of Indians. In this article, we will
explore this ambitious program, its objectives, and its impact.
Objectives of Ayushman Bharat Yojana
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a flagship scheme of the
government of India, aimed at providing financial protection to the bottom 40%
of the country's population. The scheme has two key components: the Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), which provides insurance coverage to
vulnerable families, and the Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs), which aim to
provide comprehensive primary healthcare services. Together, these components
aim to achieve the following objectives:
- Financial
Protection: The PMJAY provides health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5
lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
This coverage ensures that the poor and vulnerable sections of society do
not have to face financial hardship due to healthcare costs.
- Universal
Access to Healthcare: The HWCs aim to provide comprehensive primary
healthcare services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. These
centers will provide a range of services, including preventive and
promotive healthcare, treatment for common illnesses, and referral
services for specialized care.
- Improved
Quality of Care: The scheme also aims to improve the quality of healthcare
in India. This will be achieved through the creation of new healthcare
infrastructure, the training of healthcare workers, and the adoption of
best practices in healthcare delivery.
Impact of Ayushman Bharat Yojana
Since its launch in September 2018, the Ayushman Bharat
Yojana has made significant progress towards achieving its objectives. As of
March 2023, over 16 crore e-cards have been issued, and more than 2 crore
hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme. This has resulted in
significant financial protection for vulnerable families and has enabled them
to access the care they need without incurring financial hardship.
The scheme has also led to the creation of more than 40,000
Health and Wellness Centers across the country. These centers provide a range
of services, including antenatal and postnatal care, immunization, screening
for non-communicable diseases, and treatment for common illnesses. By providing
comprehensive primary healthcare services, the HWCs are helping to prevent the
progression of diseases and reduce the burden on secondary and tertiary care
facilities.
Furthermore, the scheme has led to an improvement in the
quality of healthcare in India. The creation of new healthcare infrastructure,
such as the HWCs, has helped to address the shortage of healthcare facilities
in rural areas. The training of healthcare workers has helped to improve the
skills and knowledge of frontline workers, enabling them to provide better care
to patients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is an ambitious
program aimed at improving the healthcare outcomes of millions of Indians. The
scheme has made significant progress towards achieving its objectives of
financial protection, universal access to healthcare, and improved quality of
care. The creation of Health and Wellness Centers has been a major achievement,
providing comprehensive primary healthcare services to everyone, regardless of
their ability to pay. The scheme has also helped to improve the quality of
healthcare in India, addressing the shortage of healthcare facilities and
improving the skills and knowledge of healthcare workers.
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