New Delhi: To enhance healthcare accessibility and inclusivity nationwide, President Droupadi Murmu launched the visionary ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign today. This significant milestone towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare for all was inaugurated through a virtual event.
The ‘Ayushman Bhav’ initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is a comprehensive nationwide healthcare campaign aimed at providing healthcare services to every village and town in the country. This innovative initiative builds on the success of the Ayushman Bharat program and represents a significant change in healthcare services.
The campaign, implemented during the ‘Seva Pakhwada’ from September 17th to October 2nd, 2023, aims to ensure that every individual receives essential health services, bringing together government sectors, civil society organizations, and communities under a common mission with the goal of eliminating disparities or exclusions.
The Ayushman Bhav campaign is a joint effort led by Gram Panchayats in coordination with the Department of Health, other government departments, and local elected bodies in rural and urban areas. Its main goal is to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to every village and town, surpassing geographical barriers and ensuring inclusiveness for all.
This approach aims to improve health service coverage through three components: Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres and Community Health Centres, and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and panchayat:
Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0: This initiative aims to provide Ayushman cards to remaining eligible beneficiaries enrolled under the PM-JAY scheme, ensuring that more individuals have access to essential health services.
Ayushman Melas at HWCs and CHCs: These Melas at Ayushman Bharat- HWCs and CHCs will facilitate the creation of ABHA IDs (Health IDs) and issuance of Ayushman Bharat Cards. They will also offer early diagnosis, comprehensive primary health care services, teleconsultation with specialists, and appropriate referrals.
Ayushman Sabhas: These gatherings in every village and Panchayat will play a pivotal role in distributing Ayushman cards, generating ABHA IDs, and raising awareness about vital health schemes and disease conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis (Nikshay Mitra), sickle cell disease, as well as blood donation and organ donation drives.
The Ayushman Bhav campaign aims to create ‘Healthy Villages’ and ‘Healthy Gram Panchayats’ to ensure Universal Health Coverage in the country. Panchayats that successfully implement the health schemes will be recognized as ‘Ayushman Gram Panchayat’ or ‘Ayushman Urban Ward,’ symbolizing their commitment to providing equitable healthcare.