MAKING PRIMARY HEALTH VISIBLE, OFFERING ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

Change is inevitable and is health any exception to that? The nature of public health has changed globally in conjunction with the ever-expanding economy and modern lifestyles.

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A few modern public health challenges include - antimicrobial resistance, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), zoonotic diseases, and mental health illnesses. NCDs continue to account for more than 60% of global deaths and are estimated to increase by 17% in the next decade. These challenges are complex, multifaceted and require a new public health system that comprehensively understands health, one that extends beyond the absence of diseases. This new system needs to see public health as a product of ongoing interactions between the environment, socioeconomic determinants, and people’s health-seeking behavior.

India’s recent achievements

The government of India introduced the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme in its 2018 budget (approx. US $ 8.4 billion) as an ambitious project to transform and strengthen India’s public health system, including through public funding for healthcare of disadvantage groups. This nationally-funded scheme incorporates three major components: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) and Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).