In a momentous step to redefine healthcare accessibility and inclusivity across the country, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the visionary ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign on September 13. This historic launch took place virtually, marking a significant leap towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare for all.
The inauguration was attended by Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Bharati Pravin Pawar, and SP Singh Baghel, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, several Members of Parliament, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is a pioneering nationwide healthcare initiative designed to achieve complete healthcare coverage, encompassing every village and town in the country. Building on the success of the Ayushman Bharat program, this campaign signifies a transformative shift in healthcare services delivery. It operates through collaborative efforts led by Gram Panchayats in partnership with the Department of Health, various government departments, and local elected bodies in both rural and urban areas.
Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu said, “The goal of Ayushman Bhav Campaign is to make sure that no person or village is left behind”. She added that if every person and every family stays healthy, then the resolve to build a healthy India would be fulfilled.
The President was happy to note that a Multi-Ministerial approach has been adopted to achieve this goal. She stated that everyone’s cooperation would be helpful in achieving such big goals.
The campaign, which will be implemented during the ‘Seva Pakhwada’ from September 17th to October 2nd, embodies a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach. It unites government sectors, civil society organizations and communities under a common mission to ensure that every individual receives essential health services without any disparity or exclusion.
This synergistic approach aims to saturate coverage of health services through its three components Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and panchayat:
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a virtual interaction with Health Ministers and senior officers of States and UTs today to take stock of the preparations underway for the launch of Ayushman Bhav.
Mandaviya highlighted the importance of the Ayushman Bhav initiative for all states and UTs. He stressed upon the states/UTs to organize Health Melas in the Health and Wellness Centres every year and urged every medical college to hold a Health Camp at the block level. He emphasized that this would ensure that patients getting screened at the Health Melas can access timely treatment at the Health Melas.
Underlining the complementarity of cleanliness and good health, he exhorted the states to ensure that all villages hold Swachchta Drive on 2nd Oct. He also underscored the importance of organ-donation and blood-donation which have recently been added as the sixth and seventh pillars of the Ayushman Bharat Initiative.
The Ayushman Bhav campaign is aligned with the vision of creating ‘Healthy Villages’ and ‘Healthy Gram Panchayats,’ laying the foundation for achieving Universal Health Coverage in the country. Panchayats that successfully saturate the health schemes will earn the prestigious title of ‘Ayushman Gram Panchayat’ or ‘Ayushman Urban Ward,’ symbolizing their dedication to equitable healthcare provision.
President Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Ayushman Bhav Campaign from Raj Bhavan, Gandhinagar. The President said the goal of ‘Ayushman Bhav Campaign – no person should be left behind and no village should be left behind – would make our country successful in achieving the… pic.twitter.com/2FMq1HtlU8
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 13, 2023