Ayushman Bharath – a healthy plan for a happier India.

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By Baskaran Krishnamurthy : 

                                   

Indian Constitution Part IV lists out ‘certain principles of policy to be followed by the State’. Article 47 in particular stipulates that ‘the State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties…’.

It has been said and agreed upon too by all and sundry that Education and Health should be given maximum attention and that the Nation should focus upon and divert all its attention towards providing educational and medical facilities to all its children and the citizens at large.

While there have been many sustained, successful attempts to carry a free, compulsory, quality education to every section of the society, nothing much of that sort has ever been tried, during the past 71 years  in the field of public health.

We have at the same time carried out many vigorous campaigns against many challenges against spreading of epidemics and have registered a phenomenal success in total eradication of Cholera, Small Pox, Polio and elephantiasis.

During the past seven decades, India has been steadily making its progress in the field of nutrition and public health. Yet, we have not been able to provide a comprehensive health coverage to the poorer sections of our country who could not afford to have the ‘luxury’ of proper, adequate medical attendance. But it is now a thing of the past. Here comes the much needed relief; the most beneficial welfare plan – ‘Ayushman Bharath’, undoubtedly, the widest welfare scheme of independent India.

The Plan launched by the Prime Minister on the 23^rd September is set to alter the whole scenario because it guarantees a health care that has never been within the reach of the millions of our fellow citizens.

‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ (Prime Minister People’ Health Plan) provides for health insurance coverage for Rs 5lakh and ensures best medical care to the beneficiaries. It brings almost all – both government and private – hospitals  of the country under the scheme.

This is perhaps the most holistic health coverage in terms of number of beneficiaries, number of hospitals providing care and assistance, the areas covered and also different forms of ailments and related medical treatments offered. It does not allow any single ‘complaint’ go uncovered.

It is a massive plan designed to benefit 500 million, yes, 50 crore people.  The sheer magnitude of the plan is something that is never heard of in any part of the world. ‘The number of beneficiaries of the scheme is roughly equal to the population of the European Union or the population of America, Canada and Mexico put together’. 

Moreover, the plan has been so meticulously drafted that it does not burden the beneficiary with much of ‘ formalities’ to be complied with. To avail of and to derive the benefits can never be more simple and more ‘user friendly’.

All that one has to do is to go to a hospital empanelled for the scheme. The admission process requires a normal registration which can be done through the Adhaar of the person requiring medical attention. Once the identity of the beneficiary is verified, he / she would be given a ‘card’ that would record the ‘history’; the ’amount’ gets reduced and would show the balance amount left in the account after every medical treatment extended to the beneficiary. It is as simple as that.

The scheme is funded by the Union and the State Government in the ratio of 3:2 which means that for every Rs 100 spent under the Plan, the Union Government pays Rs 60 and the respective State Government has to bear the balance Rs 40.

The objective of the scheme is really noble and laudable. As the Prime Minister said at the launch, ‘it is a scheme to serve the poor; even the last person standing in the queue should get better health facility’.

‘Ayushman Bharat’, also called ‘Modi care’ , does not pose any restriction on the size of the family or the age of the beneficiary. It means that right from the just born to the senior most, eldest member, entire family can reap full benefits of the scheme.

Will it really be a ‘game changer’ as it is described by the formulators of the Plan? Yes. It will be.

Our country, in spite of being a resurgent economy with a large share of youth in the population, has been trailing behind in matters of universal health care. This awkward state of ‘backwardness’ should not be permitted to last any more. It is high time we address the issue in all its seriousness that it deserves and we take a pledge to get rid of the menace of poor sanitary, health conditions prevailing in many parts of our country even today.

The role of a ‘people’s government is important and integral too in taking the challenge head on.  And here it is – ‘Ayushman Bharat’! It just could not have happened a day later.

A healthy population is the basis and a mandatory requirement to convert the advantages of ‘demographic dividend’ into potential assets capable of producing tangible results. Looking at the Plan from this angle, ‘Ayushman Bharat’ is bound to be more bountiful than it appears. 

Now that the Plan has been unveiled, the onus shifts to the State governments to propagate, to publicize and to popularize the scheme so that the message of good health and well being reaches ‘the last man in the queue.’

There is no denying the fact the Plan to be successful has to get over many challenges in future. The requirement and allocation of funds by the States for the purpose would be a major hurdle. Particularly, with the General election for the next Parliament round the corner, many state governments, run by parties opposed to the ruling set-up may not be too willing to play its legitimate role in alleviating the woes of the masses. As has been the curse in our country for so long, ‘electoral calculations’ may hamper the progress in implementation of the Plan of the present government. In that case sadly, the common man of  ‘Free India’ may have to wait a few more months for the most beneficial, most awaited Plan to deliver its most desirable results. 

All that we can say now is – ‘Sabko Sanmathi De Bhagwan!’ so that ‘sabka subh arogya’ is possible too.

 

Baskaran Krishnamurthy, Income Tax officer in Chennai, leading columnist and Trainer for Civil Service Exams, great motivator for school children regularly interacting with them for their studies and career.

• Baskaran Krishnamurthy.
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