A ROBUST HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE

The Modi government has made gigantic strides in healthcare since 2014, focusing on expanding access to medical services, improving medical infrastructure and percolating healthcare to all the crevices of the country through the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which is the largest healthcare programme in the world.

- R. K. PACHNANDA

This programme, launched in 2018, by PM Modi, consists of the two major components: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and the Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) initiative. PM-JAY provides for free health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year to the economically disadvantaged families.

Nearly 500 million people have been benefited by this scheme, especially those in the lowest socio-economic strata. Beneficiaries can access secondary and tertiary healthcare services at empaneled public and private hospitals across India. This scheme reduces out-of-pocket expenses which historically have been a significant burden for India's poor, often driving families into the vortex of debt. The reach of these services is expanding, thus addressing both accessibility and affordability.

The second part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme is the establishment of 150,000 HWCs across the country. These centres are designed to provide primary healthcare services to rural and remote populations with a focus on preventive, promotive and curative healthcare. HWCs provide a range of services including screenings for non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health services, vaccinations and treatment for communicable diseases.

By focusing on primary healthcare, the government aims to reduce the stress on secondary and tertiary hospitals, promote early detection of diseases and widen the healthcare network. HWCs are also equipped with trained staff, diagnostic equipment and essential drugs.

The aim of the Modi government has been to increase public healthcare expenditure from 1.5% to 2.5% of the GDP, reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality rates and address non-communicable diseases.