India Moves closer to Universal Health Coverage - Stakeholders Workshop on 'Ayushman Bharat�'organised by FICCI and supported by NITI Aayog in Bhubaneswar

NEW DELHI, 7 May 2018:  Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. V K Paul said in Bhubaneswar on Saturday that it is time that India achieves its ambition of universal health coverage, for which Ayushman Bharat is a step in the right direction. 

He was speaking at the Stakeholder Workshop on 'Ayushman Bharat' organised by FICCI and supported by NITI Aayog, in Bhubaneswar.

Addressing more than 80 stakeholders from the healthcare industry, Dr. Paul said that the program is an ideal opportunity for the healthcare sector and stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, healthcare providers and health insurance companies. 

He said that improving the awareness would be one of the critical elements for the successful roll-out of the Program. 

"The government will use multiple community-level channels for rolling-out the program seamlessly such as gram sabhas, ASHA workers, mass media campaigns, and a dedicated helpline number," he said.

The government is currently working to ensure successful rolling-out of the Ayushman Bharat program. Several rounds of consultation are being held all across the country, involving all stakeholder groups and these interactions, at the state level, indicate the government�s commitment to making this program successful. 

Dr. Paul said that building a robust primary healthcare system is one of the most significant pillars of Ayushman Bharat program, which will save lives and lead to a healthier India. Pointing to the financial protection that the program offers, he said, "about 40 percent of the population to have access to healthcare, with no burden on their pockets."

Under the Ayushman Bharat program, Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Mission (PMRSSM) has been designed to protect about 10.7 crore poor and vulnerable families from catastrophic health expenditures by providing a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family for hospitalisation.

Dr. V K Paul stated that the program would have ease of access and transparency while implementing, as the entitlement would be through SECC data. "the identity validation would be done through Aadhaar, and hospitals empanelled through a very transparent online process, and state governments would be allowed to start their health schemes in alignment with the program," he said.