Role of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic
J. Balamurugan *
Department of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu–632014, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: India’s National Health Policy 2017 (NHP-2017) has its aim wholly aligned with the idea of Universal health insurance. The Ayushman Bharat Program was announced in the Union budget 2018-19 of the Government of India, proposes to carry NHP-2017 offers forward. The Ayushman Bharat Program has two components – Health and Wellness Centers, and National Health Protection Scheme – aiming for increased availability, accessibility and affordability of primary-, secondary- and tertiary-care health services in India.
Objective: In this research, the role that this scheme has played in not only managing but also mitigating the COVID-19 outbreak in India has been explored. It has created the infrastructure needed to provide free healthcare to millions of Indians, from free testing and treatment in empaneled hospitals to other benefits like transportation for healthcare workers has been analyzed.
Methods: A first-hand perspective of the scheme has been provided through an interview conducted with a high-ranking official of the PMJAY office.
Results: Since its inception in 2018, Ayushman Bharat has provided free treatment to more than 2 crore people.
Conclusion: Without the AB-PMJAY scheme in place, it would have been practically impossible to deal with the pandemic.
Keywords: Ayushman Bharat, COVID-19, PMJAY, healthcare, rural health, health insurance