As I was surfing through the web, this Google news recommendation caught my eye. “Government de-empanels over 2,000 Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana linked Hospitals”. Unsure on what to think about the news, I decided to spend some more time researching about what is AB-PMJAY, and what is the impact of the scheme I see the posters of everytime I cross a government hospital.
What is Really AB-PMJAY? Can be a Rapper Name
AB-PMJAY stands for Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Ayushman Bharat is the flagship healthcare program of the Government of India with the goal to move India towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Another jargon, which when explained simply says that all citizens have affordable access to healthcare. Now healthcare comprises of three broad levels:
Primary Healthcare: As suggested by the name, the basic healthcare that is fundamental and crucial for everyone. It includes basic symptom diagnosis and treatment, basically the places where you would visit for your sugar, BP problems and to get medicines for your fever when crocien does not work.
Secondary Healthcare: Slightly more expertise oriented, usually referred by primary healthcare specialists. Includes surgery, radiology, advanced testing and diagnosis
Tertiary Healthcare: Heavily expertise oriented with diagnosis only in hyper-advanced and priority cases. Consists post stroke neurology, cardiology, cancer treatments, etc.
Ayushman Bharat program aims to bring all three healthcare levels to citizens in an easily accessible and affordable manner. The same is planned through two key levers:
A) Jan Arogaya Mandir:
B) PM JAY
