AYUSHMAN BHARAT - HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTRES

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Context - The Union Health Minister chaired a meeting to review the operationalisation status of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

Details

The Minister of Health stated that “E-Sanjeevani is providing affordable and accessible health care teleconsultation Services to people in remote areas.
He advised States/UTs to proactively spread awareness regarding Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres

The Union Government has announced the establishment of 1,50,000 Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) in February 2018.
Existing Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres in rural and urban areas are being upgraded to deliver comprehensive primary health care, to all citizens, free of cost, closer to homes.
Celebration of 4th Anniversary of AB-HWC under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’- 16th April 2022
The Union Government to organize 'Block level Health Melas' at all the 1.17 lakh Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres across the country.
- These Centres are also connected with E-sanjeevani Teleconsultation services, which is providing free and affordable health care to all

About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

It will ensure access to quality healthcare by promoting the use of technologies such as telemedicine and supporting the national portability of health services.
Citizens can create their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) numbers, to link their digital health records.
The National Health Authority will be the implementing agency of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
It aims to create a National Digital Health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner.

Concerns

Privacy concerns and misuse of data.
Exclusion of citizens and denied healthcare due to System failure or technical errors.

Present status of Healthcare in India

According to WHO Study, 34% of Indians are physically inactive.
The fertility rate in 23 States and UTs including all the Southern States is below the Replacement rate while it is higher in a number of States in Central, east and northeast India.
Despite increasing knowledge of Contraceptive methods men have not taken up the responsibility of managing fertility.
India 3rd the most obese nation after US and China.
Non Communicable diseases top killers' Diabetes, Cancer and heart disease Cause over 70% of deaths.

Steps by the Government

Promotion of Institutional deliveries through Cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram: Free ante-natal Check-ups, Post-natal Care and treatment of Sick infants till one year of age.
Providing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Services, the establishment of Special Newborn Care Units.
Home Based Newborn Care is being provided by ASHAs.
MAA for improving breastfeeding practices.
Pradhan Mantri Dialysis Program.
Mission Indradhnaush: Expanding full immunization Coverage, the introduction of new vaccines.
PM Swasthya Suraksha Yojana for strengthening the tertiary health Sector.
POSHAN Abhiyaan to address Malnutrition.
Iron and folic acid Supplementation for Prevention of Anaemia, home visits by ASHAs to promote breastfeeding and promote the use of ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea in children.
Medical Devices Rules, 2017: Transparent regulatory System, Ensure Safety and quality of medical devices, Allowed 100% FDI in medical devices Sector to Promote Make in India.
National Health Resource Repository: Create a reliable, unified registry of the Country’s healthcare resources showing the distribution pattern of health facilities and Services between Cities and rural areas - ISRO is a technology Partner for providing data Security.
Allowed 100% FDI in the Medical devices Sector to promote Make in India.
Kayakalp initiative to Promote Cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health facilities.

National Health Policy 2017 targets

Shifts From communicable to non-communicable diseases.
Collaborating & regulating the private sector.
A shift from Sick-care to wellness.
Increase Life Expectancy at birth from 67.5 to 70 by 2025.
Reduction of TFR to 2.1 at national and Sub-national levels by 2025.
Reduce Five Mortality to 23 by 2025 and MMR from current levels to 100 by 2020.
Reduce infant mortality rate to 28 by 2019.
Reduce neonatal mortality to 16 and the stillbirth rate to “single-digit” by 2025.
Reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025.

Steps need to be taken

Reduce the Pressure on Secondary and tertiary hospitals by investing in Preventive and Primary Health Care facilities.
Early detection and Prevention.
Provide adequate protection to doctors.
Increasing the Doctor-Patient ratio.
Reduce Out Of Pocket Expenditure.
Increase the number of vaccines under Mission Indradhanush.
Increasing the number of drugs and medical devices under price control.
The Ministry Should Standardize the Cost of Certain treatments.
Raising Public Health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP.
Provide accessible, affordable and quality health care.
Inform and educate people about the traditional Systems of medicine.
Ayurveda Doctors and Yoga Teachers for Rural Areas.
Improve Hospital access, Health worker density, and Access to essential medicine.
Mobile Medical Units to Provide outreach Services in rural and remote areas.

Way Forward

Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide range of data, information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1816131