Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat, health protection scheme to benefit 10 crore families

Ayushman Bharat is touted as the world's largest government-funded health care programme.

Representational image

New Delhi: Union Cabinet on Monday approved the launch of Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission - which is slated to cover over ten crore poor families and provide coverage of upto Rupees five lakh. 

The scheme is touted as the world's largest government-funded health care programme. AB-NHPM will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes - Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).

NHPM will enable beneficiaries to avail of health facilities from any part of the country and will be a paperless and cashless.

As per the government, various measures like identity validation through Aadhaar, will make NHPM easily accessible and transparent in approach. On the other hand, it's upto to the states to decide whether they want to implement the mission in trust mode, insurance company mode or mixed model.

Under #AyushmanBharat - #NHPM, 10.74 crore families will be able to avail of cashless treatment. Entitlement would be derived from Socio-Economic Caste Census data. #AyushmanBharat #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/8K8GLrZd0S

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

#CabinetDecision: #AyushmanBharat - #NHPM will provide health insurance benefits of Rs. 5 lakhs/family, per year, covering nearly 50 crore people. Another major step for universal health coverage. #SwasthaBharat @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/CcWSgAMgZb — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

An online system will be developed for hospital empanelment to expand the reach of the #AyushmanBharat - National Health Protection Mission (#NHPM) to every nook & corner of the country. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/rj7oXOHQKB — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

#AyushmanBharat - National Health Protection Mission (#NHPM) will give underprivileged families the financial support required when faced with illnesses requiring hospitalisation. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/rbVGsUyBat — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

#AyushmanBharat - National Health Protection Mission (#NHPM), will be simple to use for beneficiaries and providers alike as it will be a paperless and cashless treatment. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/cUjlC2x1Zh — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

#AyushmanBharat - National Health Protection Mission (#NHPM), in synergy with #NHM, will help to strengthen public health infrastructure. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/rvQwAHLePj — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

Various measures like identity validation through Aadhaar, cost control etc., make #AyushmanBharat - National Health Protection Mission (#NHPM) easily accessible and transparent in approach. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/nbEMaEALKq — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

Substantial reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure on #healthcare will be attained through #AyushmanBharat - National Health Protection Mission (#NHPM), safeguarding more than 50 crore people. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/dMEwNArCu7 — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

#CabinetDecision on #AyushmanBharat - #NHPM: Flexibility to states to decide whether they want to implement the Mission in trust mode, insurance company mode or mixed model. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/kDH1dEPKoq — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

The #Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission provides ease to be merged with the ongoing health protection or insurance schemes in various ministries & governments. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @PMOIndia @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/FMUoVRB5Vf — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

#AyushmanBharat - Comprehensive Primary Healthcare (#CPHC): Package of twelve services including free universal screening for common non-communicable diseases, under #NHM 2017-2020. #CabinetDecision @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/SAjZWEqwrg — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

Under the #NationalHealthMission 2017-2020, horizontal integration of all vertical disease programmes will be done to ensure an integrated approach to health and wellness. #CabinetDecision #AyushmanBharat @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel @Ayushmanbharat1 pic.twitter.com/vwssCSsyAA — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2018

Hailing NHPM, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, "I am heartily thankful to PM Narendra Modi and Union Cabinet for approving National Health Protection Mission. It is one of the world’s largest public health programs. A visionary step towards advancing the agenda of universal health coverage."

He added, "NHPM will leverage on Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) for providing universal health coverage and make health services equitable, affordable and accessible. It will benefit the poorest and the needy."

#NHPM will cover over 10 crore poor families (approximately 50 crore people) providing coverage of upto 5 lakh rupees. There is no limit on family size. This will be the world’s largest government funded health care programme. pic.twitter.com/b8ebtG6BYs — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) March 21, 2018

The Union Cabinet also approved the continuation of the National Health Mission.

I also thank Hon PM @narendramodi ji for approving#NationalHealthMission 2017 – 2020 - flagship programmes of Govt. of India & largest public health programme in the world. NHM and NHPM will be the will be the twin pillars of #AyushmanBharat & help achieve UHC. pic.twitter.com/FEnFsCPwgi — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) March 21, 2018

NHPM was announced in the Union Budget 2018 by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Earlier, on February 7, 2018, schemes worth about Rs 14,930 crore to boost the availability of human resources for health and medical sector was approved by the Union Cabinet. It included the establishment of 24 new medical colleges in unreserved areas.

The establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals will take place by 2021-22. 18,058 undergraduate and postgraduate seats will also be increased in medical colleges by 2020-21, an official statement had said. The government also plans to set up 248 nursing and midwifery schools.

It has been planned to ensure at least one medical college for every 3-5 Parliamentary constituencies and at least one government medical colleges in the state. The scheme will serve to create additional 10,000 MBBS and 8,000 PG seats in the country, it was said.

(With Agency inputs)