Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan while addressing G20 finance and health ministers in Osaka says Ayushman Bharat will lead to UHC
Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan talked to G20 health and finance ministers about the Ayushman Bharat programme, describing the NDA health flagship as a crucial step towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna (Prime Minister Health Protection Scheme) provides health protection cover to 107.4 million poor and vulnerable families for secondary and tertiary care, assuring hospitalization cover of Rs. 5,00,000 per annum per family,” Dr. Harsh Vardhan informed the participating global health and finance ministers in Osaka, Japan. Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday had crucial meetings on the sidelines of the summit with US President Donald Trump, Chinese premiere Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
He told them that the Government of India, led by PM Narendra Modi believes in the philosophy of ‘Sab Ka Saath; Sab Ka Vikas; Sab Ka Vishwas’, which means ‘inclusive development with everybody’s participation and trust’. “The financing of universal health coverage is a challenge that most developing countries are presently encountering and in this context, India endorses the G20 ‘Shared Understanding Document’,” Dr. Harsh Vardhan said.
The first component of Ayushman Bharat is focused on achieving preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative healthcare through setting up of 150,000 Health and Wellness Centres. Focus on wellness converges India’s traditional knowledge of Yoga, to eat-right, cessation of alcohol & tobacco
Speaking about the big strides India has taken towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that India launched the world’s largest Universal Health Coverage program, the Ayushman Bharat (Long Live India), which adopts a continuum of care approach and comprises of two inter-related components. He elaborated that the first component of Ayushman Bharat is focused on achieving preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative healthcare through setting up of 150,000 Health and Wellness Centres. Focus on wellness converges India’s traditional knowledge of Yoga, to eat-right, cessation of alcohol & tobacco and creating community awareness about lifestyle changes. A people’s movement on wellness has already begun in India, he said.
“Let us all work together to make the twenty-first century a human-centered century which has strong and resilient health systems, individuals and communities,” he urged the leaders. He said that the multi-dimensionality as well as the plurality of pathways towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage goals are two aspects that countries should be mindful of, while deliberating on this subject. “With this understanding, in India, the finance and health ministries collaborate very closely for health sector outcomes,” he added.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan appreciated G20 Japanese Presidency for identifying financing of Universal Health Care as a priority agenda. He also acknowledged the work of WHO and World Bank in advancing the Universal Health Coverage agenda. “We will welcome their support in innovative and efficient ways for strategic purchasing, service delivery and health financing,” he stated.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan also visited the Suita Hospital at Osaka, Japan today and interacted with the officials at the hospital on the latest research and development in medicine like new centrifugal blood pump and portable heart lung machine.
