Page 47 - Tehelka-May18

healthcare

hen the IndIa gets World’s largest and Union Territories (UTs)
Ayush- can implement the scheme
man Bharat healthcare scheme through an insurance com-
scheme was pany, directly through a Trust/
W announced in Society or use an integrated
Budget 2018, there were scep- Ayushman Bharat aims to cover over 10 crore mode. To ensure that the
tics who observed that the families with a comprehensive health coverage of funds reach the SHAs on time,
scheme would only remain a the transfer of funds from the
dream. However, it soon cul- up to 5 lakh per family per year. The scheme is set Central Government through
minated into reality when PM to be the world’s largest healthcare Ayushman Bharat may be
Narendra Modi launched the programme, writes Sarrah done through an escrow ac-
first phase of the Ayushman count directly.
Bharat Health Programme
from Bijapur in Chhattisgarh Expenditure by Centre/
in the presence of Chief Min- States
ister Raman Singh and Union The expenditure incurred in
Health Minister JP Nadda. premium payment will be
Under the Ayushman shared between States and
Bharat Scheme, the govern- the Centre. The total expendi-
ment aims to open 1.5 lakh ture will depend on the actual
health and wellness centres market-determined premium
in the country by 2022, which paid in the States and it will be
would be equipped to treat implemented through insur-
a host of diseases, includ- ance companies. In States
ing blood pressure, diabetes, where the scheme will be
cancer and old-age illnesses. implemented in Trust/ Society
Also under the scheme, the mode, the Centre’s share of
government has prepared funds will be provided based
the broad roadmap of the on actual expenditure or
National Health Protec- Advantages of • Under cover The scheme will have premium ceiling in the pre-
tion Scheme and work is on a cover of 5 lakh per family per year determined ratio.
to finalise parameters for the scheme are
identifying beneficiaries and portable and a crore rural families with States/districts covered
hospital entitlement. benefits decided on the basis Ayushman Bharat will be
Also known as the National beneficiary may of deprivation criteria in the rolled out in all districts
Health Protection Scheme, take cashless Socio-Economic Caste Census across all states and UTs
Ayushman Bharat has twin (SECC) database. To control totalling 1.5 lakh Health and
missions - first, creating a net- benefits from the costs, payments for Wellness Centres. Besides
work of health and wellness any public or treatment will be done on a comprehensive health care,
centres to deliver compre- package rate (to be defined by these centres will also provide
hensive primary health care listed private the Government in advance) essential drugs and diagnos-
close to the community, and hospital basis. tic services for free. To begin
second, providing insurance For giving the policy with, 1200 crore has been
cover to 40 per cent of India’s directions and fostering earmarked in the 2018 finan-
population, that is most coordination between Centre cial year for this programme.
deprived, for secondary and cover of 5 lakh per family per and states, it is proposed to The second programme
tertiary care, including, hospi- year. Benefits of the scheme set up the Ayushman Bharat under Ayushman Bharat is
talisation costs. In the second are portable across the coun- National Health Protection National Health Protection
phase of the scheme, a health try and a beneficiary covered Mission Council (AB-NHPMC), Scheme, which is expected to
insurance cover of 500,000 under the scheme will be chaired by the Union Health cover over 10 crore families.
would also be provided to allowed to take cashless and Family Welfare Minister, If implemented as planned,
500 million people across the benefits from any public or will manage the scheme at this will be the world’s largest
country. listed private hospital across the apex level. States would government-funded health
Ayushman Bharat-Nation- the country. need to have State Health care programme.
al Health Protection Mission The entitlement-based Agency (SHA) to implement
will have a defined benefit scheme set to touch 10.74 the scheme. Both States letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 may 2018 47 www.Tehelka.com

47 Ayushman Bharat.indd 3 17/05/18 3:52 PM