Performance of Ayushman Bharat Scheme

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme has made significant strides since its launch in 2018. Below is an overview of its objectives, components, and recent achievements:

About Ayushman Bharat Scheme

• Launch and Objective:
• Launched in 2018, following the recommendations of the National Health Policy 2017.
• Aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that everyone has access to necessary health services without financial hardship.
• Sustainable Development Goals:
• Supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, emphasizing the commitment to "leave no one behind."
• Components:
• The scheme consists of two inter-related components:
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):
• Provides health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakhs per year to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families for secondary and tertiary care.
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs):
• Aims to strengthen primary healthcare services across the country.

Progress and Achievements

• Card Distribution:
• As of January 2024, the scheme surpassed 30 crore Ayushman cards, facilitating access to health services for millions.
• Technology Initiatives:
• To enhance outreach, the National Health Authority (NHA) launched the ‘Ayushman App’ for the creation of Ayushman cards, improving accessibility for beneficiaries.
• State Performance:
• Uttar Pradesh leads with 4.83 crore Ayushman cards, followed by Madhya Pradesh (3.78 crore) and Maharashtra (2.39 crore).
• Gender Equity:
• The scheme has achieved notable gender equity, with 48% of treatments provided under Ayushman Bharat availed by female beneficiaries, highlighting its inclusive approach.

Beneficiary Demographics

• Recent data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare indicates that beneficiaries aged 70 years and above constituted over 12% of all admissions under the scheme, reflecting its impact on the elderly population.

The Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme has shown significant engagement with older beneficiaries, particularly those aged 70 and above. Here’s an overview of the latest data and trends:

Key Statistics and Trends

• Elderly Beneficiary Data:
• As of January 2024, beneficiaries aged 70 years and above accounted for over 12% of all admissions under the scheme and nearly 14% of the total expenditure.
• The government's plan to expand Ayushman Bharat to include all individuals over 70, regardless of their economic status, is expected to add nearly 4 crore new beneficiaries.
• Impact of Coverage Expansion:
• Including older individuals of means may lead to increased utilization of the scheme and rising costs, as this demographic often requires more comprehensive healthcare services.

Budget Allocations

• In the interim budget presented in February, the scheme was extended to include ASHA and Anganwadi workers. However, the July budget did not mention any further expansions, though there was a slight increase in the allocation to ₹7,300 crore.

Aging Population in India

• India's aging population is projected to grow from 8.6% in 2011 to 19.5% by 2050, tripling in absolute numbers from 103 million to 319 million.

Hospital Admissions and State Performance

• State Variability:
• Hospital admissions for older individuals exceeded their population share in several states, with Maharashtra leading at 20.49% of admissions attributed to the elderly.
• Tamil Nadu recorded the lowest proportion of admissions at 3.12% but incurred higher treatment costs for the elderly population.
• Spending on Elderly Care:
• States such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar exhibited the highest proportions of spending on elderly care, reflecting regional disparities in healthcare access and expenditure.

Treatment Costs and Challenges

• Treatments for elderly individuals tend to be costlier due to:
• Longer healing times and the higher likelihood of secondary infections.
• Increased need for ICU care and management of multiple comorbidities.

Conclusion

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme has made notable progress in providing healthcare access to the elderly population in India. With the projected increase in the aging demographic, the scheme's expansion to include older individuals will be crucial in addressing their healthcare needs. Ongoing monitoring of expenditure and utilization patterns will be essential to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the program in the face of rising demand.