Ayushman Bharat Diwas is annually observed across India on April 30 to emphasise the importance of healthcare facilities for all citizens of India. The day is celebrated as a part of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
- The day aims to promote the significance of providing medical facilities to all remote areas and to provide quality healthcare to every citizen in India.
Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2023 was observed on 30th April 2023 under the theme “Swasthya Amrit”.
About Ayushman Bharat –Pradhan Mantri Jan AarogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY) :
i. Ayushman Bharat, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), is a flagship scheme of the Government of India (GoI), which was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- It was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 23rd September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
ii. The initiative’s main goal is to provide quality healthcare services through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
iii. The Ayushman Bharat comprises 2 interrelated components: Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres:
i. The GoI announced the creation of 1.5 lakh HWCs in 2018 by transforming current Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres into the base pillar of Ayushman Bharat.
ii. By providing Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), these facilities would bring healthcare closer to the homes of people.
- It covers both maternal and child health services and non-communicable diseases, including free essential drugs and diagnostic services.
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana:
i. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) aims to provide financial protection for secondary and tertiary care to about 40% of India’s households.
- PMJAY is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government.
ii. PMJAY aims to offer secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation coverage of Rs 5 lakhs per family across private and public institutions in India.
iii. These benefits are available to over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries).
Note: The 2 parts of Ayushman Bharat working together will make it possible to achieve the goal of universal health coverage.
