Delhi Embraces Ayushman Bharat: A New Dawn for Accessible Healthcare

In a big leap towards healthcare for all, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched formally in Delhi. The rollout ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan was the eagerly anticipated event of the coming together of the Delhi government and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, cemented by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing.

Nineteen residents – 11 women and eight men – were the first recipients of Ayushman Bharat Health Cards in the capital. The cards are likely to transform access to healthcare for economically weaker sections of the population in Delhi.

Strengthening the backbone of public health

The program is a part of a broader national effort to increase public health infrastructure. In addition to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), PM-ABHIM will make secondary and tertiary care in hospitals more accessible and affordable.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has declared Rs 1,749 crore funding for Delhi, emphasizing the government's priority for health. This will assist in constructing 1,139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), modernizing 11 integrated public health labs, and establishing nine critical care blocks. "These AAMs will be better than the old mohalla clinics in terms of infrastructure and services," Gupta stated.

Health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family

Union Health Minister JP Nadda called the launch a "historic moment" and stressed that 3.6 million people in Delhi will benefit through AB-PMJAY. In the expanded scheme, beneficiary families will receive health coverage of as much as ₹10 lakh annually, with no waiting period for elderly citizens or pre-existing illnesses.

Delhi joins 34 other states and union territories that are already participating in the scheme. It covers 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialties, with cashless treatment available at 46 private and 34 government hospitals. Coverage includes diagnostics, medicines, hospital stays, surgeries, ICU care, and more.

Real stories of hope and change

The first to get the new health card was Anusaya, 55, an ASHA worker from Shalimar Bagh. She was initially hesitant after getting the call, but she confirmed her decision through her seniors.

60-year-old Nano Begum from Chandni Chowk came to the event with her son. “We’ve spent thousands going from hospital to hospital over the years for my joint pain. With this card, I can finally get treated at a private hospital without burdening my children,” she said.

Hurdles still exist: Awareness is the next hurdle.

Although the launch of the scheme was a cause for joy and relief, most of the new beneficiaries were confused about how and where to utilize their cards. "It would be nice if someone could inform us precisely which hospitals are included," stated Santosh Kumar, an electrician and one of the initial cardholders.

The government promised to conduct the training of doctors in two stages by April 10. It is a positive step, though. But full disclosure to the public is what is needed as the next move.

Last word: A benchmark, but no endpoint.

The launch of PM-ABHIM in Delhi is certainly a move in the right direction, promising to bridge a wide gap in healthcare for an underserved section. But, as the voices of the early beneficiaries indicate, awareness and education will be the crucial keys to unlock the scheme's potential.

Political Undercurrents and Public Expectations

The implementation of the scheme in Delhi comes after years of political struggle between the BJP-led Centre and the earlier AAP government, which had opposed the introduction of the scheme. Social media responses mirrored this tension, with Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada, MD, FAAP, posting on X:

"The rollout of Ayushman Bharat in Delhi is a good move. The earlier AAP govt had stalled it… Hope it reaches beneficiaries without operational hassles."

With Delhi joining as the 35th state/UT to implement Ayushman Bharat, the city is on the verge of a health revolution. But for this program to really deliver, authorities now need to work on simplifying implementation, raising awareness, and making it transparent for those it is meant to benefit.

Delhi has created a new window for healthcare equity. Now, attention needs to be paid to shepherding people through it.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)