Union ministries have heeded the call from the Union Cabinet to support the Government’s flagship health initiative Ayushman Bharat. More than 200 hospitals under the purview of different Union ministries at the central level have been empanelled under the scheme, according to reports. In December, the Union Cabinet wrote to the National Health Authority and […]
access to healthcare
NHRC seeks answers on high-cost treatment and Ayushman Bharat
The Prime Minister and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare praised the Government’s flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat in the last days of December. However, concerns have been raised about the scheme by the National Human Rights Council (NHRC) – in particular over complaints that Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries are struggling to access […]
Cancer infrastructure needs an upgrade
Cancer is one of the leading threats to public health in India. An estimated 2.25 million people live with the disease in the country, with more than 1.15 million new cases registered and an estimated 784,821 deaths recorded last year. Despite this, the country’s cancer infrastructure is sorely lacking – as phrased by a parliamentary […]
Private practice warning for Mumbai doctors and hospitals
Doctors and hospitals could face action if government-employed medicos participate in private practice during the office hours of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). More than eighty percent of doctors and seventy percent of nurses and midwives are employed by the private sector in India. Government doctors should not participate in private practice between the hours […]
Stroke treatment boost in Kochi
The government-run General Hospital, Ernakulam in Kochi will provide stroke treatment with the opening of a new centre. A dedicated team to provide stroke treatment and management is being formulated, in order to dispense treatment in a timely and efficient manner to those admitted to the hospital with stroke symptoms. Nephrologist Dr M. Sreedeepan, who […]
World Mental Health Day: India continues to suffer in silence
Millions of Indians continue to suffer in silence as the treatment gap due to mental health disorders remains in the face of staggering demand. World Mental Health Day – observed today – serves as a reminder of this grim reality. Approximately 150 million Indians are affected by mental health disorders, including 56 million who suffer […]
Piramal Swasthya: Indian NGO awarded by USAID
Piramal Swasthya has received an award from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its work in expanding access to affordable healthcare throughout the country. It was one of five international organisations to receive the Inclusive Health Access Award from the Washington-based agency, as well as a US$30,000 grant. Chief executive officer Vishal […]
Ayushman Bharat: One year in
Today marked the one-year anniversary of the launch of Ayushman Bharat, with reports indicating the scope of the initiative’s success – and plans for its future. Officially known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Ayushman Bharat offers health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year to economically vulnerable families – […]
Child and maternal mortality: India still a leader
“Thirty years ago, the world made a commitment to protect and fulfil children’s rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Among the most fundamental of these rights is the right of every child to survive.” So reads the introduction of the latest Levels and Trends in Child Mortality, a joint […]
Centre continues push for primary healthcare
Government plans for strengthening India’s primary healthcare infrastructure are continuing, with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announcing an ambitious target of constructing 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres (HWCs) by 2022. HWCs form a core part of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), or Ayushman Bharat, the Centre’s flagship health insurance scheme which […]