With the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPM-JAY) bringing all citizens aged 70 years and above under its ambit, around 45 million families, including 60 million elderly population are expected to get the medical benefits, by ensuring them free health insurance coverage.
“This initiative covers over 120 million families, providing an annual hospitalisation benefit of USD 6,000 per family,” JP Nadda, Union Health Minister said on Monday during his inaugural address to the 77th session of WHO Southeast Asia Region (SEARO), here.
“This expansion will benefit around 45 million families, including 60 million elderly population, by providing them free health insurance coverage. It underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring universal and inclusive healthcare for India’s growing elderly demographic”, he said, pointing out the program’s potential to alleviate financial burdens associated with healthcare.
Nadda said that India as a lighthouse country in the digital health arena, is poised to share its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPIs) such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, e-Sanjeevani, Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), SAKSHAM etc. by providing technical and financial support through the Global Initiative on Digital Health - a WHO-managed network, launched during India’s G20 Presidency.
He also stated that “following the remarkable success of the CoWIN digital platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, India has conceptualised the online digital platform-UWIN, for the Universal Immunisation Programme. The portal will register, track and monitor all vaccination events.”
He said that “India’s experience in integrating this system with the conventional system of medicine has led to the provision of holistic healthcare, promoting overall well-being and expanding the range of healthcare services”.
Highlighting the significant progress made in global health since 1948, particularly in reducing infant mortality rates, Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO SEARO said, however emphasised the emerging challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
“In 1948, when the first Regional Committee for South-East Asia was formed, the infant mortality rate globally was around 147. Today it is 25. Then, the antibiotic age had just begun. Today, we are faced with antimicrobial resistance”.
“And so, as we conquer old threats, we are faced with new ones. It is upon us to confront the perils of today, with the collective wisdom of all who came before us - and with the tools of the 21st century,” she added.
