On March 18, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has included Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to fight against the coronavirus. So far 168 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been registered in India. Out of these, India has cured 14 and three have died so far due to the virus.
Key Point
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has joined along with the National Health Authority to fight against the coronavirus. The National Health Authority is the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat. The scheme will help in identifying the capabilities of 19,840 impaneled hospitals to recruit patients. Also, the ministry will include non-profit hospitals to ramp up facilities.
The scheme is to identify these beds and set up isolated wards for COVID-19 patients.
Other Measures
The Ministry has also included Niti Aayog and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to study hospital-level preparedness. Also, a database of ventilators and beds is to be collected.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme
Statement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a flagship scheme of the National Health Policy of the Government of India which aims to provide free health coverage to 40% of its poor and vulnerable population slated to be below it at secondary and tertiary level.