Ayushman Bharat Yojana Explained – HWCs, PMJAY, NHA

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Ayushman Bharat was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It is an attempt to move from sectoral and segmented approach of health service delivery to a comprehensive need-based health care service. This schemes aims to undertake path breaking interventions to holistically address the healthcare system (covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care) at the primary, secondary and tertiary level.

Ayushman Bharat

Component of Ayushman Bharat

Ayushman Bharat adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components:

  1. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
  2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

Health and Wellness Centres (HWC)

In February 2018, the Government of India announced the creation of 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) by transforming the existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres. These centres are to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) bringing healthcare closer to the homes of people. They cover both, maternal and child health services and non-communicable diseases, including free essential drugs and diagnostic services.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched on 23rd September, 2018 in Ranchi. It is the largest health assurance scheme in the world which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crores poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries). This scheme is discussed in separate article.

National Health Authority

National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Earlier it was called National Health Agency but later renamed to National Health Authority.

The NHA is governed by a Governing Board chaired by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; and is headed by a full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) supported by Addl. CEO and Executive Directors

State Health Agencies

SHA is a nodal agency responsible for implementation of PM-JAY in the state headed by The CEO. SHA is appointed by the State government and is ex-officio member secretary of the Governing Council of the SHA

In addition to the State level entity, a District Implementation Unit (DIU) is also established to support the implementation in every district included under the scheme.

Ayushman Bharat Related News

  • India has operationalised 75,532 Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres so far despite the COVID-19 pandemic and is on track to functionalise 1.5 lakh HWCs by December 2022

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