Prime Minister Unveils India's Green Hydrogen Hub Vision
Key Ideas
- The Union Cabinet approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
- The scheme offers a family-based cover of Rs 5 lakh annually and an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh for those already covered by AB PM-JAY.
- Challenges include the rise in chronic illnesses among the elderly, low AB PM-JAY penetration in smaller towns, lack of outpatient care, and functional issues like misinformation.
- Suggested measures include improving insurance models, expanding healthcare infrastructure, strengthening primary care, and implementing social security systems for the elderly.
The Union Cabinet has approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This initiative aims to provide approximately 6 crore senior citizens with a family-based cover of Rs 5 lakh annually, along with an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh for those already covered by AB PM-JAY. The scheme under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare falls under the Ayushman Bharat Mission and targets 12 crore families for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Challenges in senior healthcare include the rise in chronic illnesses, low penetration of AB PM-JAY in smaller towns, lack of outpatient care coverage, and functional issues like misinformation and staff overload.
To rejuvenate India's insurance sector, proposed measures include implementing parametric insurance using data analytics, promoting employer-driven group insurance schemes, fostering public-private partnerships for affordable insurance, and conducting awareness campaigns to improve insurance literacy. Additionally, suggestions to improve healthcare infrastructure involve empowering Arogya mitras, expanding health centers, and enhancing primary and secondary care to reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals. Other recommended measures for the elderly include enhancing social security systems, promoting intergenerational programs, ensuring access to healthcare services, fostering social inclusion, engaging civil society, maintaining demographic stability, establishing community-based care systems through initiatives like the ASHA program, and creating age-friendly cities.