The biggest highlight of Union Finance Budget presented by finance minister Arun Jaitley was the new health care scheme. The presented health care scheme is world’s largest government funded healthcare program with a whopping investment of Rs. 52,000 crore in the health sector.
Followings are the highlights of the new Health care Program by Government of India:
Finance Minister announced a new flagship program called ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’. Under this program two schemes will be initiated: 1. establishing health and wellness centers. 2. Implementation of National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS).
The Modi government will establish 1.5 lakh ‘Health and Wellness Centers’ across nation. These centers will be equipped to provide comprehensive health care for non-communicable diseases as well as for maternal and child health. These centers will provide free diagnostic services and essential drugs. The government has also invited private sector through CSR and philanthropic institutions to adopt centers.
Under the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) government will provide health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family. 10 crore families (nearly 50 crore individuals) will benefit from this scheme. Government is planning to primarily focus vulnerable and under-privileged families under this scheme. Rs. 1200 crore are invested for this scheme.
To improve the quality of medical services, education and health care government has planned to start 24 new government medical colleges and hospitals by upgrading existing district hospitals. This will provide at least one medical college for every three parliamentary constituencies and at least one government medical college in every state of the country.
The schemes under Ayushman Bharat Yojana will provide numerous employment opportunities, especially to women.
