Ayushman Bharat Scheme: First health & wellness centre inaugrated in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Health and Wellness Centre in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh to mark the launch of Ayushman Bharat Yojana- National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). The insurance scheme dubbed as Modicare was announced in Union Budget 2018 and was approved by Union Cabinet in March 2018 with budgetary support of Rs 10,500 crore. It is world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana

It aims to target over 10 crore families belonging to poor and vulnerable population based on Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) database. It will cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year, taking care of almost all secondary care and tertiary care procedures. There will be no cap on family size and age in the scheme.
Under it, the government aims to set up 1.5 lakh wellness centres by 2022 that will leverage on comprehensive primary health care for preventive, promotive and curative care. Benefits covered under it include pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. It will also cover all pre-existing conditions from beginning of policy. It will also pay defined transport allowance per hospitalization to beneficiary.
For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States for implementation of scheme, Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Council (AB-NHPMC) will be set up at apex level. It will be chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.
State governments are allowed to expand scheme both horizontally and vertically. They are also free to choose modalities of its implementation. They can implement through insurance company or directly through Trust/ Society or a mixed model.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2018