Ayushman Bharat: the big budget scheme

Ayushman Bharat: the big budget scheme

Context

Two major initiatives in health sector announced as part of Ayushman Bharat programme

Aim:

Making path breaking interventions to address health holistically, in primary, secondary and tertiary care systems, covering both prevention and health promotion

1. National Health Protection Scheme
2. Health and wellness centres

National Health Protection Scheme

• 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
• This will be the world’s largest government funded health care programme.
• Existing RSBY coverage: Under the existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), poor families get an annual coverage of Rs. 30,000

Health and wellness centres

• Under this 1.5 lakh centres will bring health care system closer to the homes of people.
• These centres will provide comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services.
• These centres will also provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services.
• Funds: The Budget has allocated Rs.1200 crore for this flagship programme. Contribution of private sector through CSR and philanthropic institutions in adopting these centres is also envisaged.

A negative step?

• Basic health care must be provided through government hospitals and not through insurance that pays for care at private hospitals.
• This is a disturbing sign that we are going down the American route to health care instead of, say, the Canadian route.

New India 2022

These two health sector initiatives under Ayushman Bharat Programme will build a New India 2022 and ensure enhanced productivity, well being and avert wage loss and impoverishment. These Schemes will also generate lakhs of jobs, particularly for women