Government’s flagship health scheme meeting its commitment of ‘leaving no one behind’
Public Health is a state subject hence, the responsibility of providing medical assistance to patients of all income groups is of the respective State/ UT Governments. However, the National Health Mission (NHM) – a flagship program of the Ministry with its two Sub-Missions, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), supports States /UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems so as to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services.
Introduction of Ayushman Bharat Yojana:
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY): Mahatma Jyotirao Pule Jan Arogya Yojana is a flagship health insurance scheme of the Government of Maharashtra. The scheme provides end-to-end cashless services for identified diseases through a network of service providers from the Government and Private sectors. The scheme earlier was known as Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana which was started on 2nd July 2012 in eight districts and then was expanded to 28 districts of Maharashtra from 21st November 2013.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) was launched by the Government of India on 23rd September 2018. AB-PMJAY was launched in Maharashtra in integration with Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojna and was implemented in mixed Insurance and Assurance Mode. Ayushman Bharat has been announced by the Government of India in the Union Finance Budget 2018, which has two main pillars; setting up one lakh health and wellness centers in the country and connecting 10 crore families with health insurance cover of Rs 5.00 lakh per year.
This initiative has an underlying commitment, which is to “leave no one behind”. It has been designed to meet SDG 3, Target 3.8, i.e. achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services, and access to safe, effective, quality affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
Ayushman Bharat (AB) aims to undertake interventions to holistically address health at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The main aim is to provide essential health services throughout the country through four pillars of this program:
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):
The most important component of Ayushman Bharat is the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – also popularly known as PM-JAY. The PMJAY beneficiaries receives an e-card to avail the services at hospitals anywhere in India. You also get cashless treatment. Its coverage includes 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses. Expenses like OT (Operation Theatre) and other 1,400 procedures are covered under PM-JAY. It grants ₹5 lakhs to every family yearly and provides healthcare to economically underprivileged people.
PM-JAY progress in Sawangi Gram Panchayat, Kalmeshwar Taluka:
To ensure that the benefits of the yojana reaches the last mile, Aayushman Sabhas were organized across the Sawangi Gram Panchayat. The focus of these sabhas were to improve awareness and ensure access. It included following activities:
- Distribution of Ayushman Cards
- Displaying lists of beneficiaries who have received treatment under PM-JAY
- Displaying empaneled hospitals in the area
- Organizing special health talks to raise awareness about Ayushman Cards
The benefits of Ayushman Sabha include:
- Increased awareness about Ayushman Bharat Yojana
- Increased access to healthcare services for beneficiaries
- Improved health outcomes for beneficiaries
Ayushman Sabhas are an important part of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. They help ensure that the scheme’s benefits reach the intended beneficiaries. Its immediate impact could be observed through the interest shown by villagers in accessing the benefit. Nearly 40-50 interested individuals apply for the card in the Gram Panchayat every day.
My observations and reflections:
In my personal discussion with villagers, many people faced the issues of Aadhar card and mobile linkage, which was a challenge.
Building a deeper understanding of the scheme gives a positive push to the effort to provide the right information about the yojana and convince them of its benefits. I also gained confidence through personal observation and engagement with the villagers for which the yojana is intended and those engaged in ensuring its access to the last mile.
Taking benefits of Ayushman Card
Beneficiary_Priti Game
Ayushman card
Notes: Data as of November 2023
https://dashboard.pmjay.gov.in/pmj/#/
Benefits of PM-JAY:
The scheme takes care of the underprivileged and financially vulnerable sections of our society, and these are the benefits of PMJAY
- 1. All hospitalization expenses are covered with cashless transactions
- 2. Availability of hospitalization accommodation
- 3. Costs related to pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization
- 4. Covers complications that might arise during the treatment
- 5. Available to all members of the family
- 6.No cap on gender, age, or family size
- 7. Includes pre-existing conditions
Camps of the scheme are also organized in different places through the Gram Panchayat, where the objective of the Gram Panchayat is to ensure that its benefits reach the people.
Camp at the Gram Panchayat in Sawangi kalmeshwar
Under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Nagpur district numbers and locations:
The following programs/ schemes are run by the government under the National Health Mission:
Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK)
- Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram(RKSK)
- Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)
- Universal Immunisation Programme
- Mission Indradhanush (MI)
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)
- Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK)
- National Programme for Family Planning
National Nutritional Programmes
- National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme
- MAA (Mothers’ Absolute Affection) Programme for Infant and Young Child Feeding
Communicable diseases
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)
- Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)
- National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)
Non-communicable diseases
- National Tobacco Control Programme(NTCP)
- National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS)
- National Oral Health programme
This year, the World Health Organization observed its 75th anniversary. The theme for 2023 was “Health for All”. This day is observed to promote health and safety, highlight health challenges, and serve the vulnerable so that everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health and well-being.
To commemorate this day, we are looking at ‘Ayushman Bharat’ – a flagship scheme of the Government of India, which was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017 to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Setting up these pillars has paved the path to an underlying commitment of India’s goal for SDG 3 to “leave no one behind” and the coming years will determine whether every rural beneficiary is covered and benefited from this.
Additional resources:
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Dashboard
- Help has been taken in writing this blog from India Data Insights
iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteering 