Ayushman Bharat: A scheme that displayed roadmap of healthcare to the world

Ayushman Bharat scheme: The Indian worldview was subjugated by the Western mindset during and after oppressive Imperial (Islamic and British) regimes. Inflicted by an inferiority complex, India’s past credentials as Vishwa Guru were snubbed as mythical or jingoistic claims. Contrary to that, Western narrative and nations were eulogised hyperbolically. For their reckless use of power, they earned the moniker ‘Superpowers’. But the Covid pandemic skinned off every layer of this farce of a claim.

The so-called Superpowers, USA and China timidly acted in a frantic, immature and racist manner rather than stepping up and voicing for an equitable distribution of resources like vaccines and essential medicines. In that unprecedented, chaotic and uncertain time, India landed the helping hand to the World and demonstrated the difference between ‘Vishwa Guru’ and ‘Superpower’.

Imposition Vs Cultural Influence

For centuries, the Indian Civilisation, with its rich cultural and spiritual heritage, influenced other countries and enriched their civilisation and up-lifted their society. Throughout the continuum of Indian civilisation, invasion or imposition of ideas or culture was never thought of, leaving apart its manifestation.

Contrarily, the ‘Superpowers’ US and China have been forcefully imposing their ideas, thought process and policies. In case of ‘non-compliance’ or sovereign nations developing their own spine, these Superpowers have been penalising, sanctioning and even invading them.

Also Read: Why China and the US should fear India’s new Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Having said that, there are contemporary successes of ‘Vishwa Guru’, India, that can reap enormous benefits for the World, if replicated. The best example of this is the world’s largest health assurance scheme of the world, Ayushman Bharat.

Ayushman Bharat transformed Healthcare system in India

In 2014, the Modi government inherited a dilapidated healthcare system. Since then, the prime focus of the government has been to improve the healthcare infrastructure of the country. For this PM Modi has been taking unprecedented steps like building new state-of-the-art medical hospitals like AIIMS.

In 2012-13, there were only 6 AIIMS that had started their academic sessions. In less than eight years of Modi government, with government’s impetus, there are 16 major projects for new AIIMS in various States are running their work. Additionally, on 30th November,2022, the Modi Cabinet approved outlay for 16 new AIIMS with a fund of Rs.20,944 crores.

This has drastically improved India’s number in healthcare metrics.

For example – This table highlights the improvement in certain healthcare metrics.

These great feats in health care have been possible because of the introduction of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). As per government data, the Union government has provided health coverage up to Rs 5 Lakh per family per year to around 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families.

Also Read: Here is how Ayushman Bharat is helping to boost Indian economy

By December 2022, the Modi government has issued around 21.24 Crores Ayushman Bharat Cards. The total number of Hospital Admissions is 4.22 Crore. Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya too highlighted the landmark success of Ayushman Bharat Yojana through his tweets. Highlighting the massive increase in health coverage, he lauded the scheme calling it empowering and a step towards ensuring health security to Citizens.

Also Read: ASHA workers, the unsung heroes of last-mile health work

The massive boost to healthcare infrastructure has been taken in line with Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Apart from providing health coverage to the poor and the vulnerable sections, Ayushman Bharat Yojana has been focusing on building a holistic and integrative healthcare system.

Ayushman Bharat: A successful health care template for the World to replicate

In March, 2010, US President Barack Obama passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which is colloquially known as Obamacare. It aimed to provide health cover to around 10 crores US citizens. But the scheme failed to reap dividends. Within a decade of its passage, the leftist lobby in Democratic party that heralded this ambitious scheme had been demanding wholesale reforms in the scheme to make it effective.

In contrast to that, Ayushman Bharat has wider coverage around 10 crores household (average 50 crore citizens) as against 10 crore people under Obamacare. As stated above, Ayushman Bharat has benefitted around 4.5 crore people directly and countless others indirectly with preventive healthcare. Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya too raised these points in Parliament.

The world can learn a lot from the success of Ayushman Bharat that has transformed Indian healthcare drastically. Firstly, Obamacare couldn’t yield desired results and failed to manifest its high aims. The second Superpower, China is an opaque society and getting its real picture is near to impossible. However, the dilapidation in Covid has exposed the claims of it being a superpower particularly in healthcare.

India has an inherent benefit that earlier it hardly had the presence of sound ‘modern’ healthcare infrastructure which most developing and low-middle income countries found resemblance with.  With those limited resources, India has showcased remarkable success. Through Ayushman Bharat, India has demonstrated the importance of holistic healthcare. India has advantages that it is a democracy and hence the world gets the liberty to get unadulterated data. Furthermore, it has a plethora of data to undertake research for advancement of science and medical technology.

With Ayushman Bharat and response during Covid, India has demonstrated that India is again ready to play the role of Vishwa Guru. The nation will keep on giving influenceable successes from which countries around the world can enrich themselves without having to lose their own identity or sovereign choices.

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