Ayushman Bharat Completes Eight Years: India's Flagship Health Scheme
Ayushman Bharat, India's major health initiative, recently marked its eighth anniversary, highlighting its significant impact on healthcare access across the nation.
Source: GNews PM SchemeAyushman Bharat, the flagship healthcare scheme of the Government of India, recently completed eight years since its launch. This milestone highlights the scheme's journey in providing health coverage to millions of vulnerable families. Ayushman Bharat was launched in 2018 with two main components: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs). PMJAY offers health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The Health and Wellness Centres aim to bring healthcare closer to people by providing comprehensive primary healthcare services. The scheme has significantly expanded access to medical treatment, especially for economically weaker sections, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure on health.
This news is important for competitive exams, especially for UPSC GS Paper II (Social Justice, Government Policies & Interventions) and SSC General Awareness. Aspirants should understand the structure, objectives, and impact of major government schemes like Ayushman Bharat. Questions often focus on the scheme's components, financial outlay, target beneficiaries, and its role in achieving Universal Health Coverage.
- Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in 2018.
- It consists of two main components: PMJAY and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs).
- PMJAY provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year.
- The scheme targets over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families.
- More than 2.2 lakh Health and Wellness Centres have been operationalized under the scheme.
- Over 28,000 hospitals are empanelled under PMJAY across India.
Ayushman Bharat is a national health protection scheme launched by the Government of India in 2018. It aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services to the population. It is the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is the health insurance component of Ayushman Bharat. It provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families.
Health and Wellness Centres are the second component of Ayushman Bharat. They aim to transform existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres into HWCs to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) closer to the community. They provide services like maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases screening, and free essential drugs.
UPSC often asks about the features, objectives, and implementation challenges of major government welfare schemes. SSC and Banking exams frequently test on the launch year, financial outlay, and target beneficiaries of such schemes.
Remember 'AB' for 'Ayushman Bharat' and 'Always Benefits' the poor with '5 Lakh' health cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of the Ayushman Bharat scheme?
The primary objective of the Ayushman Bharat scheme is to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India. It aims to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services to the population, particularly the poor and vulnerable, by reducing their out-of-pocket expenditure on health.
When was the Ayushman Bharat scheme officially launched in India?
The Ayushman Bharat scheme was officially launched by the Government of India in 2018. It was introduced to address the healthcare needs of a large segment of the Indian population, building upon previous health initiatives and expanding their scope and reach.
What are the two main components of the Ayushman Bharat program?
The two main components of the Ayushman Bharat program are the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and the establishment of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs). PMJAY provides health insurance, while HWCs focus on comprehensive primary healthcare services.