- Following the Centre’s decision to expand health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi workers, and helpers, the Health Ministry has begun the enrolling process.
- The Health Ministry has received Aadhaar data for 23 lakh Anganwadi workers and assistance, as well as nearly three lakh ASHA workers from various states.
About Ayushman Bharat Scheme
| Details | |
| Launch | 2018, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) |
| Aim | Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by providing preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative care. |
| Funding | Centrally Sponsored Scheme (expenditure shared between Central and State governments) |
| Coverage | Targets over 10 crore families (about 50 crore beneficiaries) based on SECC. |
| Implementing Agency | National Health Authority (NHA) |
| Components | Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) provide primary care services.The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) provides health coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year. |
| Coverage Details | Covers secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.Includes both pre- and post-hospitalization charges.There are no restrictions on family size, age, or gender. |
| Portability of Benefits | Benefits are transferable across the country, allowing for cashless treatment at any accredited public or private hospital in India. |
| Digital Overture | Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Launched in 2021, the ABDM will equip all Indian people with Unique Digital Health IDs (UHIDs), allowing them to access their health records electronically. |
ASHA Programme:
- As of December 31, 2023, the country had around 13 lakh Anganwadi staff, 10 lakh Anganwadi helpers, and 9.83 lakh ASHAs.
- Programme Scale: India’s ASHA programme is the world’s largest community volunteer programme, running across 35 states and union territories.
- Role of ASHAs: The ASHA programme is an important part of community healthcare because it improves access to care and helps prevent and manage COVID-19.
- Contribution Recognised: ASHAs have been recognised for their significant contribution to enhancing community access to care and are an essential component of many community platforms under the National Health Mission.
The Ayushman Bharat Scheme
- It currently covers 55 crore individuals and 12 crore households, with certain states/UTs extending the recipient list at their own cost.
- The government has distributed around 28.45 million Ayushman cards and authorised over 6.11 crore hospital admissions, totaling ₹78,188 crore.
- Hospital Empanelment: The AB-PMJAY has empanelled 26,901 hospitals, including 11,813 private hospitals, to provide healthcare services to scheme beneficiaries.
- Gender Equity: The system ensures gender equity in healthcare access, with women accounting for roughly 49% of Ayushman cards issued and 48% of total authorised hospital admissions.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-gets-ready-to-include-asha-and-anganwadi-workershelpers-in-its-ayushman-bharat-scheme/article67834930.ece#:~:text=After%20the%20Central%20government%20announced,workers%20and%20helpers%20and%20over