In a recent address, the Prime Minister of India highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to tackle health-related concerns. He underscored the importance of adopting an all-encompassing attack plan to foster a healthier nation. This strategy comprises four major elements and includes the implementation of the PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat scheme.
The Four-Pronged Strategy for a Healthy India
The Government’s proposed strategy is hinged on four main aspects:
1.
Prevention of Illness and Promotion of Wellness
This involves initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, promoting yoga, and providing timely healthcare and treatment for expectant mothers and children among others.
2.
Affordable and Effective Treatment for the Poor
The focus here is to ensure that even the economically marginalized segments receive cost-effective treatment.
3.
Improving the Quality of Healthcare Infrastructure and Professionals
The plan stresses the need to enhance the quality of health infrastructure and upskill healthcare professionals throughout the country.
4.
Mission Mode to Overcome Obstacles
An ambitious plan is set to extend initiatives like Mission Indradhanush to tribal and remote regions of the nation.
PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme: An Overview
Announced in the Union Budget 2021-22, the PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat scheme aims to develop capacities of the primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare systems extending up to the most remote areas. The central government will sponsor this scheme with an estimated budget of about Rs. 64,180 crores for a duration of six years.
The scheme outlines multiple objectives:
Establishment of Health and Wellness Centers
The scheme aims to support the creation of 17,788 rural and 11,024 urban health and wellness centers.
Setting Up Public Health Labs
It plans to facilitate the setting up of integrated public health labs in all districts and 3,382 block public health units in 11 states.
Creation of Critical Care Hospital Blocks
The scheme outlines plans to establish critical care hospital blocks in 602 districts and 12 central institutions.
Strengthening Disease Control Efforts
The scheme also seeks to bolster the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), its five regional branches, and 20 metropolitan health surveillance units.
Other areas the scheme will address include expanding the Integrated Health Information Portal to all States/Union Territories, rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination program, and building a better capacity to deal with future pandemics.
Other Notable Health Initiatives
In addition to this, the Government has launched other health initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat Program, National Health Mission, and Jan Aushadhi Yojana to improve the state of health and healthcare in the country.
