Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Improving Healthcare Accessibility in India

Officially known as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a flagship healthcare program introduced by the Indian government. Its aim is to provide financial security and health insurance coverage to economically vulnerable groups of society. The program’s main objectives are:

• Universal Health Coverage: Ensuring that all Indian residents, especially those from economically challenged homes, have access to necessary healthcare treatments without experiencing financial hardship.
• Financial Protection: Protecting struggling families from medical costs to prevent them from falling into poverty.
• Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: Providing complete health insurance coverage to lessen the burden of out-of-pocket medical spending.
• Enhancing Health Outcomes: Facilitating access to high-quality healthcare services to improve recipients’ health and well-being.
• Empowering Beneficiaries: Offering a choice of public and private facilities accredited to provide medical care, allowing recipients to access healthcare based on their preferences and requirements.
• Increasing Access to Healthcare Services: Closing the healthcare gap by increasing access to primary and secondary healthcare services for vulnerable members of society.
• Promoting Preventive Healthcare: Providing coverage for preventive measures such as diagnostic procedures, screenings, and early intervention to detect and treat health problems before they worsen.

Components of Ayushman Bharat Yojana:

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana consists of two main components:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): This component aims to provide poor and underprivileged families throughout India with health insurance coverage. Its key features include:
   • Insurance protection of up to 5 lakhs in annual family health insurance
   • Cashless treatment at any accredited hospital, public or private, nationwide
   • Portability to receive medical care at any affiliated hospital in India
   • Eligibility based on the 2011 Socioeconomic and Caste Census
   • Comprehensive coverage for a wide range of medical services
   • Choice of healthcare facilities from a large network of empanelled hospitals
   • Digital platform for beneficiary verification, hospital empanelment, and cashless transactions
2. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): This component aims to improve primary healthcare services by converting Sub Health Centers and Primary Health Centers into HWCs. Its key characteristics include:
• Comprehensive healthcare services, including maternal and child health, management of non-communicable diseases, immunizations, and health awareness campaigns
• Focus on preventive care through public health initiatives and early illness detection
• Integration with advanced medical facilities for referrals and specialist care
• Community engagement to promote healthy habits, cleanliness, and illness prevention

Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana:

• Cashless treatment eliminates the need for upfront payments, providing financial relief for beneficiaries.
• Pre-existing conditions are covered, ensuring treatment for existing medical disorders.
• Focus on preventive care through coverage of diagnostic treatments, screenings, and physical examinations.
• Improvement in healthcare accessibility for both rural and urban areas.

Challenges Faced by Ayushman Bharat Yojana:

• Lack of doctors and specialists, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas.
• Issues with recruiting, training, and retention of qualified healthcare personnel in the public healthcare system.
• Uneven distribution of healthcare professionals among different geographic areas and levels of healthcare institutions.
• High vacancy rate for healthcare positions, especially in rural areas and primary healthcare centers.
• Difficulties in regions with poor levels of digital literacy, hindering beneficiaries from accessing the scheme’s benefits.