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Daily News Analysis

NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY

15th June, 2022 Polity and Governance

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Context - The National Health Authority and NASSCOM have recently jointly organised a Conclave 2022 on Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission with the objective to Revolutionise Digital Health.

 

Details

  • The Conclave was held in Bengaluru.
  • Many stakeholders and industry veterans from the healthcare and technology sector were present at the conclave.
  • The initiative will help the health system to move from promotive and preventive health to predictive health.
  • The National Health Authority is responsible for implementing the Health insurance/assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
    • The main objective of the Mission is to leverage technology to deliver health care services to remotest areas of the country.

About Ayushman Bharat National 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.

 

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Concerns

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

 

Steps by the Government to reform Health Sector

  • Promotion of Institutional deliveries through Cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
  • Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram: Free ante-natal Check-ups, Postnatal 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 immunisation 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.

 

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 Standardise 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.

 

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1833522

https://t.me/+hJqMV1O0se03Njk9