The worlds most extensive healthcare program, the transformative Ayushman Bharat (AB) program, has transformed Indian healthcare by focusing on wellness and including everyone in the continuum of treatment. The Ayushman Bharat (AB) cards, which provide health insurance benefits of Rs 5 lakh per family, have been distributed to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families who make up the most deficient 40% of the Indian population. A door-to-door card generating campaign called Apke Dwar Ayushman is being used to distribute the Ayushman cards.

The new benefits under the AB have sighed relief to patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), as dialysis costs more than Rs 1200 per session, which wrecks the finances of most vulnerable households. More than Rs. 4-5 lakh is spent on each patient for the life-saving kidney transplant. To account for inflationary changes over time, the amended Health Benefits Package 2.2, introduced on April 6, 2022, includes 365 new treatments and increased the dialysis treatment relief from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800. The goal is to have at least one dialysis facility in each of the 750 districts.

According to several studies, India adds roughly 2.2 lakh new ESRD patients yearly, increasing the countrys annual need for 3.4 crore dialysis treatments. Hence early detection and proper management of the diseases becomes essential.

Ayushman Bharat Health IDs, also known as ABHA, will make health data accessible across multiple platforms for easy access by specialists as part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Program for the digital registry of health records. This will ensure timely disease detection and a united front to combat the disease from the initial stage. Thus, AB strives to accomplish Swasth Nagrik Abhiyan in both letter and spirit and make India Healthier. (ETHealthWorld, August 08, 2022)