The BJP manifesto among its health priorities had also listed strengthening of disease eradication programmes and mental health
The new NDA government at the Centre – commonly being referred to as Modi 3.0 – is going to prioritise expansion of insurance coverage for the elderly under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and a digital platform for the universal immunisation programme.
These were the initial policy directions outlined by health minister J P Nadda when he took charge of the ministry on Tuesday. This is the second time that Nadda is at the helm in this ministry. In the runup to the elections the BJP had announced that the health coverage under PMJAY which is currently available only to families who qualify under select socioeconomic criteria will be expanded to all senior citizens aged above 70 years. This is now a priority area for the ministry under the 100-day agenda.
The ministry of health is also working on a plan to digitalise the universal immunisation programme. India’s annual birth cohort of over 25 million babies are each administered 11 vaccines under the programme and the plan now is to do that through a Cowin like platform called U-Win. India’s Cowin platform through which the COVID19 vaccination was carried out, was appreciated globally with many countries seeking to use it for their own vaccinations.
Among the other priorities that are listed in the BJP manifesto and on which work is expected to happen at a rapid pace are eradication of diseases like trachoma, kala azar and lymphatic filariasis, expansion of mental health services, programmes to increase availability of medical manpower. Strengthening of primary care through the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, formerly known as health and wellness centres is also a key focus area of the new government.
