Introducing PMASBY Scheme
PMASBY has been launched with the following objectives-
The main goal of the PMASBY scheme is to improve the public health facilities/infrastructure by filling the current gaps, especially in primary & essential/critical healthcare facilities, in rural and urban areas
To build an Information Technology (IT) -enabled supervision system for diseases by setting up a network of laboratories in urban areas at different levels- block, district, regional, and national
The PMASBY scheme also has plans to strengthen 33 existing public health units and operationalise 17 new public health units at entry points. Such new facilities will help the Government effectively prevent, detect, investigate and combat disease outbreaks and public health emergencies
Furthermore, the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission also aims to effectively utilise the existing infrastructure of district hospitals, fix the current unevenness in the distribution of medical colleges and increase the availability of health experts
READ MORE: Government Health Insurance Schemes in India
How Can You Benefit From It?
Through the PMASBY, citizens of India throughout the country can benefit by:
Provision for support for health centres
The scheme aims to support almost 17,788 currently present healthcare facility centres spread across ten high focus states, benefiting the common people.
Setting up health centres in urban areas
The scheme aims to further set up around 11,024 healthcare facility centres in urban areas of all the states.
The Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana aims to provide critical care services through critical care hospital blocks in all Indian districts with over 5 lakh populations. Critical care services will also be provided on referral in districts with less than 5 lakh populations.
Availability of Diagnostic services
A complete range of diagnostic services will be made available to Indian citizens under the public healthcare system through a network of laboratories across India.
Health Information Portal
This scheme will develop and extend an integrated health information portal that connects all public health laboratories across Indian states and union territories.
157 new medical colleges have been approved for the country under the three phases of this scheme. Amongst these, 63 medical colleges are already functioning.
Training frontline health workers
Frontline health workers will also be trained to build a workforce capable of responding to any public health emergency under the PMASBY scheme.
READ MORE: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
How will it help India’s healthcare infrastructure?
Through the PMASBY, the Government aims to set up the following facilities to develop the healthcare infrastructure in India under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission:
National Institution for One Health
National Institutes for Virology
Bio-safety Level 3 Laboratories
Regional Research Platform for the Southeast Asia region of WHO
Regional National Centre for Disease Control
Conclusion
PMASBY- Pradhan Mantri/PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, announced on the 1st of February 2021, seeks to substantially enhance India's healthcare infrastructure. Under the public healthcare system, Indian citizens will thus, have access to better healthcare services in rural and urban areas. Moreover, the PMASBY scheme also plans to set up more medical colleges for students and healthcare experts, enabling them to be better prepared to deal with public health emergencies in the near future. Another thing that can help protect you in health emergencies is a health insurance plan. Having health insurance will ensure that your finacial well being is looked after during a medical crisis
