100 Days of Modi 3.0: Healthcare Boost with New Initiatives
In the first 100 days of its third term, the Narendra Modi-led government has unveiled a series of ambitious healthcare initiatives aimed at enhancing public health across the country. Among the key measures is the provision of health cover to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, and the introduction of 75,000 new medical seats.
Under the expanded Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), approximately 4.5 crore families, encompassing around 6 crore senior citizens, will benefit from a health coverage of Rs 5 lakh. This initiative is designed to offer financial protection regardless of income and addresses the increasing need for geriatric care, given India’s elderly population is expected to double by 2050.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously announced the creation of 75,000 additional medical seats during his Independence Day address. This expansion, from the current over one lakh seats, aims to strengthen the healthcare system and reduce reliance on foreign medical education institutions.
In line with the vision of ‘Swasth Bharat’ (Healthy India) for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, the government has also introduced the Rashtriya Poshan Mission. This flagship programme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) seeks to enhance the nutritional status of children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.
To streamline immunization, the U-WIN portal has been launched, aiming to digitize routine immunisations, while the National Medical Commission is working on a centralised doctors' repository. Additionally, the government has initiated a special campaign to raise awareness about sickle cell disease, focusing on women, adolescent girls, and tribal communities.
The Union Budget 2024-25 includes significant relief for cancer patients, with the exemption of customs duty on three cancer drugs – Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab. Furthermore, the GST rate on these medicines has been reduced from 12 percent to 5 percent to ease the financial burden on patients and improve accessibility.
In a push towards modernizing emergency medical services, the PM E-DRIVE scheme has introduced electric ambulances with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore.
Moreover, the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) now features a ‘Scan and Share’ option, facilitating out-patient registrations for up to 4 crore individuals, marking a significant step forward in digital healthcare.
