Ayushman Bharat celebrates six years of improving access to healthcare for millions of people, unifying state initiatives and expanding coverage for at-risk populations, paving the way for a digital health transformation (1✔ ✔Trustworthy source
Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission| National Portal of India
). This time, Indu Bhushan, the first CEO of Ayushman Bharat, is the author of the following report.
On September 23, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the revolutionary Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), in Ranchi, Jharkhand. As the founding CEO of this pioneering scheme, I am very pleased and immensely proud of its impact over these six years. Ayushman India has become a lifeline, offering more than 60,000 free treatments daily and protecting millions of vulnerable families from the financial devastation of medical expenses. This scheme has democratized access to healthcare, opening doors to world-class medical facilities for the country’s most underserved.
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Ayushman Bharat Success Story
The victory of Ayushman Bharat is demonstrated not only through statistics but also through the narratives of resilience and recovery emerging from various regions of the nation. For example, a farmer in rural Bihar undergoing life-saving surgery at a premier hospital in Delhi, or a daily wage laborer in Rajasthan getting essential medical care without the burden of overwhelming debt, exemplify how the initiative has reliably delivered on its commitment to providing universal healthcare. health coverage (2✔ ✔Trusted source
Cabinet approves health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income, under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
).
Furthermore, the framework of the scheme, especially its information technology platform, has enabled several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Maharashtra, to extend health coverage to all citizens. The integration of various state health schemes under the umbrella of Ayushman Bharat has facilitated more streamlined and efficient healthcare delivery, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The government has made significant progress in improving the inclusivity of Ayushman Bharat, with the aim of including more vulnerable groups within its ambit of protection. A notable extension of the scheme is the inclusion of all Anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). These workers play a crucial role at the village level and play vital roles in the delivery of healthcare services at the grassroots level. By including them in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the government recognizes their indispensable contributions and boosts their morale and commitment. This strategic move is expected to encourage stronger promotion of the plan’s benefits to rural populations, building on the trust and familiarity these workers enjoy in their communities.
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How Ayushman Bharat scheme will help senior citizens
Furthermore, the government’s recent decision to extend benefits to all people above 70 years of age is a commendable step in addressing the healthcare needs of India’s aging population. This policy adjustment recognizes the growing health care challenges faced by seniors and aims to alleviate the financial burdens associated with aging. The inclusion of this age group is set to have a far-reaching impact, ensuring that older people receive the necessary health interventions without financial hardship and improving their quality of life and well-being. These improvements to the Ayushman Bharat scheme mark a progressive shift towards a more equitable healthcare system, where more segments of the population can access vital healthcare services without discrimination or undue pressure on personal resources.
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Collaboration with stakeholders to streamline processes
The government is taking steps to integrate multiple health schemes at both the central and state levels, heralding a new era of efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. These measures promise to transform the healthcare landscape by fostering unprecedented collaboration between diverse health initiatives. By uniting these efforts under the leadership of the National Health Authority, an attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the government is prepared to negotiate premium rates with healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and insurers, leveraging the power of negotiation collective. Creating a unified platform for all health plans will not only optimize resources but also significantly reduce costs and standardize services across the board. Additionally, this platform will serve as a hub for sharing best practices among states, allowing them to share successes and overcome challenges.
As PMJAY continues to expand, it is encouraging to see the emphasis on maintaining quality of care and effectively addressing complaints. The plan has already laid a solid foundation by establishing a comprehensive framework to group hospitals and ensure compliance with high standards. As we build on this success, the introduction of a hospital rating system emerges as a promising prospect. This system would evaluate facilities based on patient satisfaction, treatment outcomes, and compliance with clinical guidelines, motivating hospitals to maintain high standards and providing patients with the knowledge to make well-informed healthcare decisions.
Additionally, we are improving our complaints resolution mechanism, ensuring that all concerns are addressed quickly and transparently. These developments herald a new era of excellence in healthcare under PMJAY, where consistent, high-quality care is not just an aspiration but a reality. As we celebrate these milestones, we look forward to a future where every program participant experiences the highest level of care and service.
PMJAY, with its strong IT backbone, has laid the foundation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The ABDM aims to create a digital health ecosystem that connects patients, healthcare providers and regulators through a seamless flow of information. By linking PMJAY with ABDM, the government can ensure that patients’ medical records are easily available to healthcare providers, reducing the risk of errors and improving continuity of care. Additionally, the digital platform could be used to track the performance of selected hospitals, monitor treatment outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
The fact that Ayushman Bharat enters its seventh year is a testament to what can be achieved when vision, leadership and collective effort come together. As we move forward, let us be inspired by the words of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, who emphasized: “The test of a good society is its ability to look after the welfare of the last person in the queue.” Ayushman Bharat is a manifestation of this philosophy, which strives to ensure that even the most marginalized people in our society receive the healthcare they deserve. By focusing on inclusion, equity and compassion, we can ensure that all Indians, no matter where they are in the queue, have access to the care they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives without undue financial strain.
The author is a former chief executive of the National Health Authority (NHA).
References:
- Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission| National Portal of India – (https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/ayushman-bharat-national-health-protection-mission)
- Cabinet approves health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income, under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) – (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2053881)
Source-Medindia
