Discussion Topic: Ayushman Bharat : Breaking Health Barriers

Introduction: A programme that brings awareness among the viewers on various traditional alternative medical practices such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, which are helpful in regaining health.

Lakhs of families borrow or sell assets to receive inpatient treatment and the government is concerned about the consequent “impoverishment of poor and vulnerable families”, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said while announcing the National Health Protection Scheme that will cover over 10 crore poor and and vulnerable families, or around 50 crore people of the country. Adequate funds will be provided for the scheme, set to be the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme, he said.

A provisional allocation of Rs. 2,000 crore has been made for the scheme in the Budget. Coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh a family a year will be provided for secondary and tertiary-care hospitalisation.Under the existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), poor families get an annual coverage of Rs. 30,000. Several State governments have implemented or supplemented health protection schemes that provide varying coverage but Ayushman Bharat is set to be the mother of all other schemes.

• Rs. 1200 Crore allocated for 1.5 Lakh health and wellness Centres

• Contribution of private sector through CSR and philanthropic institutions in adopting these centres is also envisaged.

• These Schemes will also generate lakhs of jobs, particularly for women.

• At least 1 Medical College for every 3 Parliamentary Constituencies and at least 1 Government Medical College in each State of the country.

Source & Courtesy: Rajya Sabha TV