Ayushman Bharat Yojana scheme, the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the ‘Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)’ scheme, which is the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme. The scheme is covering over 50 crore beneficiaries. The entitlement is decided on the basis of deprivation criteria in the Socio-Economic Caste Census database. “Some call it Modicare, some call it a scheme for the poor. It is definitely a scheme to serve the poor,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that Ayushman Bharat is the biggest government-sponsored healthcare scheme in the world. The total number of people covered under the scheme is more than the population of America, Canada and Mexico combined. The scheme would be studied across the organizations of the world. It will analyze how the government enables fund for this large-scale scheme.
Shocking Data
The 71st round of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) revealed that 85.9 percent of rural households and 82 percent of urban households have no access to healthcare insurance/assurance, as per the health ministry officials.
18 percent population in the urban area and more than 24 percent households in the rural area go for borrowings to meet their healthcare expenses. The Ayushman Bharat intends to change this status quo. It has really created a mark in the Indian history. Well, the consequences and impacts are yet to be known.
Read more:2019 Lok Sabha Elections: Is PM Modi Ready For A Master Stroke?
What is Ayushman Bharat?
The scheme targets the poor and deprived rural families, 8.03 crore and 2.33 crore in urban areas, as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. 1354 packages are included by the government in the scheme for coronary bypass, knee replacements, and stenting among others. Under the scheme, patients can avail 15-20 percent cheaper rates than the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). The scheme will provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service.
Who can avail of the service?
The beneficiaries are identified based on the deprivation categories (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, and D7). However, the deprivation criteria will be based on the SECC database. In addition to this, beneficiaries in states where it is active will be also included.
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