By TIOL News Service

SHIMLA, MAY 14, 2018: IN a bid to provide mega relief to poor families, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr J P Nadda presided over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with four States - Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh for implementing Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission (PMRSSM), at a regional workshop for Northern States at Shimla, today.

Speaking at the function, Mr Nadda said that "the scheme shall be a big game changer in the healthcare". The initiatives undertaken by the Govt. eventually become the largest health programs of the world due to the sheer numbers in India, he added. He cited TB and Leprosy elimination programs of the Govt.

Mr Nadda further stated that Ayushman Bharat-PMRSSM will protect around 50 crore people (from about 10 crore families). It will be cashless and paperless access to services upto Rs. 5 lakhs per year will be available for the beneficiary families at the point of service in both public and private empanelled hospitals across India, he added. He further said that the beneficiaries under the scheme can avail of services anywhere in India and it is expected to bring a visible relief to the target families by mitigating the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes.

The Minister further stated that health is at the centre-stage and the Govt is looking at it holistically. He said that PMRSSM will protect the people and at the same time Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) will deliver comprehensive primary health care. The H&WC would provide preventive, promotive, and curative care for non-communicable diseases, dental, mental, geriatric care, palliative care. The Govt. has initiated universal screening of common NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and common cancers, which will eventually help in reducing the disease burden of the country.

Through these MoU, the States will formally commit to implement PMRSSM. The MoU clearly outlines roles of Central and State or UT Governments for the implementation of PMRSSM. Similar regional workshops are also planned in due course of time across India to sign MoU with States or UTs for rolling out of PMRSSM in each region.