PM Modi launches Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission; expected to benefit villagers in remote areas
Under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, every citizen is expected to get a health identity card. The health record will be digitally secure. The government claims citizens will only be a click away from accessing healthcare facilities now. Details here.
Under this mission, every citizen is expected to get a health ID that will also work as their health account. Photo: @TRIFoundation
In a bid to strengthen the digital health ecosystem of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission today on September 27.
Under this mission, every citizen is expected to get a health ID that will also work as their health account. Personal health records can be linked to this health account and viewed with the help of a mobile application. The government claims now citizens will only be a click away from accessing healthcare facilities.
“Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will now help connect digital health solutions across the country. All Indians will now get a digital health ID under this scheme. Every citizen’s health record will now be digitally secure,” said Modi during the virtual launch today.
The access and exchange of longitudinal health records of citizens will be enabled with their consent, stated the government.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, also present at the launch, said that this scheme would help villagers in rural remote areas access healthcare. “Our brothers and sisters living in the remote villages of the country will also get better health facilities through this and through the launch of this mission, today we will take a step forward in improving their lives,” said Mandaviya.
The mission is expected to benefit the poor and middle class the most by eliminating all problems they face in getting medical treatment.
PM Modi also pointed out that the digital infrastructure in the country is reaching every Indian in a transparent manner. “130 crore Aadhar IDs, 118 crore mobile subscribers, about 80 crore internet users and 43 crore Jan Dhan Bank accounts – such a huge connected infrastructure can’t be found anywhere else in the world. This digital infrastructure – from ration to governance – is reaching every Indian in a transparent manner,” he said.
Last year during his speech on Independence Day, PM Modi announced the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It was later implemented in six Union territories as a pilot project.
Launched by the central government in 2018, Ayushman Bharat Yojana aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners such as manual scavenger families, tribal communities, beggars, slum dwellers, rag pickers, domestic help. The scheme is also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).