Question : Viability Gap Funding Window for Setting up of Hospitals

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has proposed to set up Viability Gap funding window for setting up hospitals in the PPP mode;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Aspirational Districts with no Ayushman empanelled hospitals are to be covered in the first phase;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether Government has proposed to target diseases with an appropriately designed Preventive regime using Machine Learning and AI; and

(f) if so, the details thereof along with the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) to (d): ‘Public Health & Hospitals’ being a State Subject, the primary responsibility for setting up of hospitals lies with the State Governments.

However, in January 2019, Broad Guidelines for Private Investments in setting up of Hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, subsequent to launch of AB-PMJAY, were issued.

Further, as announced in Budget 2020-21, it is proposed to set up Viability Gap funding window for setting up hospitals in the PPP mode. In the first phase, those Aspirational Districts will be covered, where presently there are no Ayushman empanelled hospitals.

Accordingly, in order to incorporate the above, the existing guidelines are being reviewed in consultation with all the stakeholders.

(e) & (f): The Government has set up a task force to explore the usage of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the basis of different datasets available. The potential areas for AI implementation in Public Health Management include:

a) Tele- Radiology
b) Tele-Ophthalmology
c) Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)
d) Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Health data
e) Disease Surveillance
f) Tele-Medicine
g) Early Detection of Diseases
h) Health data analytics
i) Remote monitoring through Wearables– elderly/special cases
j) Research in Bio-Technology

Also, the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) report, which advocates the deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning technologies in Public Health solutions, has been prepared.


Further, the Government is currently working towards a robust framework for ensuring Privacy, Security and anonymization of patient data, which will facilitate the efficient use of Artificial Intelligence in upcoming as well as current national level programmes in Health. Use of AI in Tele-Radiology programme is an area of priority.