ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): Public Health is a State subject; hence, the responsibility of providing medical assistance to patients of all income group is of respective State/ UT Governments. However, National Health Mission (NHM) – a flagship programme of the Ministry with its two Sub-Missions, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), supports States /UTs to strengthen their health care systems so as to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services.
The schemes launched under NHM are available free of cost to all income groups visiting in Public Health Facilities at sub district and district level (List is at Annexure-I).
Support under NHM to States/UTs includes provision of a host of free services such as maternal health, child health, adolescent health, family planning, universal immunisation programme, and for major diseases such as Tuberculosis, HIV/ AIDS, vector borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue and Kala Azar, Leprosy etc.
Other major initiatives include Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) (under which free drugs, free diagnostics, free blood and diet, free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home is provided), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) (which provides newborn and child health screening and early interventions services free of cost for birth defects, diseases, deficiencies and developmental delays to improve the quality of survival), implementation of Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Service Initiatives and PM National Dialysis Programme.
Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) & Telemedicine are also being implemented with NHM support to improve healthcare access particularly in rural areas.
• The Ayushman Bharat Programme launched last year provides for holistic and integrated health care and is the principal vehicle for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• It’s Health and Wellness Centre component (AB-HWC) provides essential primary and community health services such as maternal, neonatal and child health services including immunization and nutrition, thus fostering human capital development during children’s critical early years. These centres also provide services to prevent and manage common NCDs and major communicable diseases.
• The other component, AB-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides free and cashless care to about 500 million poor and deprived people for secondary and tertiary hospitalization care.
• To enhance the facilities for tertiary care of cancer, Strengthening of Tertiary Care for Cancer Scheme is being implemented to support setting up of State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country. Oncology in its various aspects has focus in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).
• Financial assistance to patients living below poverty line for life threatening diseases under the schemes such as Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) and Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG) is also provided.
• Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal outlets have been opened with an objective to make available drugs and implants for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), Cancer and Diabetes at discounted prices to the patients.
(c ): Services at Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) are free and universal to all individuals residing in the service area.
Under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the State/ UT wise number of hospital admissions is at Annexure-II.
(d) & (e): AB-PMJAY provides health coverage of up to Rs 5.00 lakh per family per year to 10.74 crore poor, deprived families as per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) database. Details of the entitlement criteria are at Annexure-III.
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