Cabinet approves “Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi | PMSSN”

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet approves the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN).

About Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi(PMSSN):

This program will ensure access to universal & affordable health care through a fund that does not lapse at the end of the financial year.

Features: 

1. It has been set up as a single non-lapsable reserve fund for a share of Health.
2. It will be made from the share of health in the proceeds of Health and Education Cess.
3. The fund will be administered and maintained by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Note: Finance Minister announced the 4% Health and Education Cess during the Budget 2018-19. It replaced the existing 3% Education Cess.

How will the fund be utilised? The fund will be utilized for the following flagship schemes of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:

• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
• Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs)
• National Health Mission
• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
• Emergency & disaster preparedness and responses during health emergencies
• Any future programme/scheme that targets to achieve progress towards SDGs and the targets set out in the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017.

Source: PIB