Speech on Ayushman Bharat

Speech on Ayushman Bharat: A Revolutionary Step in Indian Healthcare

Good health is the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation. In a country as vast and diverse as India, ensuring quality healthcare for everyone has always been a challenge. To tackle this, the Indian government introduced Ayushman Bharat—a game-changing initiative aimed at providing affordable and accessible healthcare to millions of people. In this speech, I will explain how Ayushman Bharat works, why it was necessary, and its impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

What is Ayushman Bharat?

Introduced in 2018, Ayushman Bharat stands as one of the largest healthcare initiatives globally. It offers free medical coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization and treatment. The official name of the scheme is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and it aims to benefit over 500 million Indians. The goal is to make sure that no one is denied medical care because they can't afford it.

Ayushman Bharat focuses on two main areas:

1. Establishing  Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) across India to provide preventive and basic care.
2. Offering financial protection through PM-JAY for expensive secondary and tertiary medical treatments, like surgeries and specialized care.

Why Did India Need Ayushman Bharat?

Before Ayushman Bharat, healthcare in India faced several issues:

• High out-of-pocket expenses: More than 60% of healthcare costs were paid directly by patients, pushing many families into debt.

• Poor access in rural areas: Many rural and underserved areas lacked proper healthcare facilities.

• Expensive treatments: Life-saving treatments were often too costly for the average person.

Ayushman Bharat was introduced to bridge these gaps by making healthcare both affordable and accessible to everyone, especially the poorest sections of society.

Key Features of Ayushman Bharat

1. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)

Under this initiative, the government aims to set up 1.5 lakh HWCs across India. These centres are crucial for providing basic healthcare services such as:

• Detection and monitoring of illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

• Free essential medicines and diagnostic services.

•  Maternal and child healthcare.

• Vaccination and immunization drives.

HWCs help in the early detection of diseases, making it easier to treat conditions before they become serious, which reduces the need for hospitalization.

2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

   PM-JAY is the second key component of Ayushman Bharat and offers ₹5 lakh of health coverage per year to each eligible family. Some key benefits of PM-JAY include:

• Coverage for nearly 1,393 medical procedures including surgeries and treatments for critical illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and more.

• The scheme is cashless and paperless making it easier for patients to access healthcare.

• Families can use the coverage at both public and private hospitals that are empanelled under the scheme, giving them more choices for treatment.

   Unlike other insurance schemes, PM-JAY covers pre-existing conditions from the very first day, offering a truly comprehensive health package.

How Does Ayushman Bharat Work?

The scheme identifies beneficiaries through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) database, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are prioritized. Eligible families receive an e-card which allows them to access treatments at empanelled hospitals without any upfront payments. Since the scheme is cashless the patient doesn’t need to worry about paying at the hospital, and everything is handled directly by the government.

India has already empanelled over 24,000 hospitals under the PM-JAY, covering both public and private institutions. This wide network ensures that beneficiaries have access to healthcare regardless of where they live.

Impact of Ayushman Bharat

Since its launch, Ayushman Bharat has made a significant difference in India:

• Access to quality healthcare: Millions of people have received free treatment for illnesses that would have otherwise been unaffordable.

• Reduction in healthcare costs: With the government covering major treatment costs, families no longer need to spend their life savings on hospital bills.

• Improved healthcare infrastructure: The scheme has improved hospital services in rural areas and enhanced the overall healthcare network in India.

• Early disease detection: The focus on preventive healthcare through HWCs has led to the early detection of many conditions, reducing long-term complications.

As of now, more than 5 crore individuals have already benefitted from Ayushman Bharat, with access to treatments ranging from heart surgeries to cancer care. The scheme has provided life-saving care to many who were previously denied medical attention due to financial reasons.

Challenges Faced by Ayushman Bharat

While Ayushman Bharat has had a significant positive impact, it faces several challenges:

• Awareness issues: Many eligible families, especially in remote areas, are still unaware of the scheme and its benefits.

• Healthcare infrastructure: Some regions still lack the necessary infrastructure to meet the growing demand for services under the scheme.

• Fraud: There have been some instances of fraudulent claims, which have prompted the government to tighten monitoring and put stricter checks in place.

Addressing these challenges is crucial for the scheme’s long-term success and for ensuring that every eligible citizen benefits from it.

Future Prospects of Ayushman Bharat

The future of Ayushman Bharat looks promising. The government is continuously improving the scheme, with plans to integrate modern technology like telemedicine and digital health records Expanding the network of hospitals and increasing the number of HWCs will further strengthen the healthcare system in India.

There is also a growing emphasis on preventive healthcare, which will reduce the number of serious illnesses in the future. HWCs will continue to play a central role in educating people about healthy living and the importance of regular health check-ups.

In addition, Ayushman Bharat serves as a model for other developing countries looking to implement universal health coverage and make healthcare accessible to all citizens, regardless of their financial status.

Conclusion

Ayushman Bharat is more than just a healthcare scheme; it represents India’s commitment to providing healthcare to every citizen. By offering free and accessible medical care, the scheme has helped millions of people, reduced financial burdens, and improved the overall quality of life in India. 

The challenges are real, but so is the potential. With continued improvements and investments in infrastructure, Ayushman Bharat will remain a beacon of hope for India’s underprivileged, ensuring that good health is not a luxury, but a fundamental right for all.

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