President to virtually launch Ayushman Bhav Campaign today

In an effort to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and to ensure healthcare for all, the center will unveil the ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. The campaign will be launched virtually by President Droupadi Murmu.

The campaign initiated by the health ministry is a nationwide healthcare initiative that aims to provide saturation coverage of healthcare services, reaching every village and town in the country. The campaign, which will be implemented during the ‘Seva Pakhwada’ from September 17th to October 2nd, 2023, embodies a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach, said union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday.

Mr Mandaviya held a virtual interaction with health ministers and senior officers of states and union territories on Tuesday to take stock of the preparations for the launch of the campaign. With an average of five members in a family, the Union health ministry has set a target of making Ayushman cards for an estimated 35 crore people till October 2 to bring them under the ambit of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY).

“The campaign is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Gram Panchayats in coordination with the Department of Health, other government departments, and local elected bodies in the rural and urban areas. Its core objective is to extend comprehensive healthcare coverage to every village and town, transcending geographical barriers and ensuring that no one is left behind,” the minister said.

This synergistic approach aims to saturate coverage of health services through its three components Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and panchayat.

Through the Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0 initiative, the government aims to provide Ayushman cards to the remaining eligible beneficiaries enrolled under the PM-JAY scheme, ensuring that more individuals have access to essential health services. The Ayushman Melas at HWCs and CHCs will facilitate the creation of ABHA IDs (Health IDs) and issuance of Ayushman Bharat Cards. They will also offer early diagnosis, comprehensive primary health care services, teleconsultation with specialists, and appropriate referrals, Mandaviya said.

“The Ayushman Bhav campaign is aligned with the vision of creating ‘Healthy Villages’ and ‘Healthy Gram Panchayats’, laying the foundation for achieving Universal Health Coverage in the country. Panchayats that successfully saturate the health schemes will earn the prestigious title of ‘Ayushman Gram Panchayat’ or ‘Ayushman Urban Ward,’ symbolising their dedication to equitable healthcare provision,” Mr Mandaviya said.