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Context - The Union Health Minister chaired a meeting to review the operationalisation status of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

 

Details

• The Minister of Health stated that “E-Sanjeevani is providing affordable and accessible health care teleconsultation Services to people in remote areas.
• He advised States/UTs to proactively spread awareness regarding Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

 

Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres

• The Union Government has announced the establishment of 1,50,000 Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) in February 2018.
• Existing Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres in rural and urban areas are being upgraded to deliver comprehensive primary health care, to all citizens, free of cost, closer to homes.
• Celebration of 4th Anniversary of AB-HWC under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’- 16th April 2022
• The Union Government to organize 'Block level Health Melas' at all the 1.17 lakh Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres across the country.
  • These Centres are also connected with E-sanjeevani Teleconsultation services, which is providing free and affordable health care to all

 

About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

• It will ensure access to quality healthcare by promoting the use of technologies such as telemedicine and supporting the national portability of health services.
• Citizens can create their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) numbers, to link their digital health records.
• The National Health Authority will be the implementing agency of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• It aims to create a National Digital Health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner.

 

Concerns

• Privacy concerns and misuse of data.
• Exclusion of citizens and denied healthcare due to System failure or technical errors.

 

Present status of Healthcare in India

• According to WHO Study, 34% of Indians are physically inactive.
• The fertility rate in 23 States and UTs including all the Southern States is below the Replacement rate while it is higher in a number of States in Central, east and northeast India.
• Despite increasing knowledge of Contraceptive methods men have not taken up the responsibility of managing fertility.
• India 3rd the most obese nation after US and China.
• Non Communicable diseases top killers' Diabetes, Cancer and heart disease Cause over 70% of deaths.

 

Steps by the Government

• Promotion of Institutional deliveries through Cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram: Free ante-natal Check-ups, Post-natal Care and treatment of Sick infants till one year of age.
• Providing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Services, the establishment of Special Newborn Care Units.
• Home Based Newborn Care is being provided by ASHAs.
• MAA for improving breastfeeding practices.
• Pradhan Mantri Dialysis Program.
• Mission Indradhnaush: Expanding full immunization Coverage, the introduction of new vaccines.
• PM Swasthya Suraksha Yojana for strengthening the tertiary health Sector.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan to address Malnutrition.
• Iron and folic acid Supplementation for Prevention of Anaemia, home visits by ASHAs to promote breastfeeding and promote the use of ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea in children.
• Medical Devices Rules, 2017: Transparent regulatory System, Ensure Safety and quality of medical devices, Allowed 100% FDI in medical devices Sector to Promote Make in India.
• National Health Resource Repository: Create a reliable, unified registry of the Country’s healthcare resources showing the distribution pattern of health facilities and Services between Cities and rural areas - ISRO is a technology Partner for providing data Security.
• Allowed 100% FDI in the Medical devices Sector to promote Make in India.
• Kayakalp initiative to Promote Cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health facilities.

 

National Health Policy 2017 targets

• Shifts From communicable to non-communicable diseases.
• Collaborating & regulating the private sector.
• A shift from Sick-care to wellness.
• Increase Life Expectancy at birth from 67.5 to 70 by 2025.
• Reduction of TFR to 2.1 at national and Sub-national levels by 2025.
• Reduce Five Mortality to 23 by 2025 and MMR from current levels to 100 by 2020.
• Reduce infant mortality rate to 28 by 2019.
• Reduce neonatal mortality to 16 and the stillbirth rate to “single-digit” by 2025.
• Reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025.

 

Steps need to be taken

• Reduce the Pressure on Secondary and tertiary hospitals by investing in Preventive and Primary Health Care facilities.
• Early detection and Prevention.
• Provide adequate protection to doctors.
• Increasing the Doctor-Patient ratio.
• Reduce Out Of Pocket Expenditure.
• Increase the number of vaccines under Mission Indradhanush.
• Increasing the number of drugs and medical devices under price control.
• The Ministry Should Standardize the Cost of Certain treatments.
• Raising Public Health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP.
• Provide accessible, affordable and quality health care.
• Inform and educate people about the traditional Systems of medicine.
• Ayurveda Doctors and Yoga Teachers for Rural Areas.
• Improve Hospital access, Health worker density, and Access to essential medicine.
• Mobile Medical Units to Provide outreach Services in rural and remote areas.

 

Way Forward

• Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide range of data, information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.

 

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1816131