GUWAHATI: Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu dedicated Atal-Amrit Abhiyan (AAA)- ‘medical benefits under cashless mode’ — an ambitious health assurance scheme of government of Assam, at a function held at international convention centre of Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here on Wednesday.
Atal-Amrit Abhiyan is a comprehensive coverage for six commonly prevalent and high cost diseases involving 438 procedures under which every individual of every eligible family per annum will be entitled to financial benefits of Rs 2 lakh.
Speaking on the occasion Naidu said that according to WHO survey half of the people of the world cannot obtain quality health care facilities and 7 per cent of the people of the country run out of money because of emergency health situations. Under such circumstances launching of Atal-Amrit Abhiyan for the people belonging to BPL and APL is a noble endeavour for making health care facilities within the reach of everybody. He also said that if the scheme is implemented in letter and spirit people of the state would acknowledge the government’s endeavour forever.
Vice President Naidu also said that Atal Amrit Abhiyan would lead to creation of equitable access to affordable and accountable health care services with government being the enabler and guarantor and the fact that 92 per cent of the people of Assam have been brought under the purview of the scheme is indeed a testimony of the government’s keen inclination in providing universal health care facilities.
Vice President Naidu however said that India has had twin burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Though diseases like polio, tetanus and others have been controlled to a phenomenal extent, the country still faces the wrath of non-communicable diseases like stroke, cardio-vascular diseases and he attributed the rise of non-communicable disease to changing life style and people’s increased indulgence in sedentary life style. He therefore, urged upon the State Government to make physical exercise and yoga as a mandatory component in school curriculum. He said that physical vitalities in life style would make persons healthy. Naidu also advocated for growing with nature and said that nature, culture and future must go together.
Vice President Naidu also advocated for bridging the health care gap between city and rural areas. He also advocated for creating more health care infrastructure in rural areas and medical colleges in villages. He also said that preference must be given for PG admission to those students’ for working in rural areas. Speaking on the Infant Mortality Rate which is 44 in Assam as against national average of 37, Naidu asked State government to go for more interventional work to reduce the gap. He also advocated for increased health insurance in the country and work for inclusive growth for ending social discrimination and equal development of all sections of the people of the country. He also said that nobody should encourage politics in rape cases because rape incidents should be dealt with stringently and indifferently.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that for a paradigm shift of the health care delivery system in the state the State government would also launch a health scheme Samartha where in 25 birth related defects can be corrected through surgical procedures and the scheme is in advanced stage of its implementation. He also said State government has tied up with Tata Trust where 19 cancer hospitals would be set up in Assam.
Under the scheme an array of government and private hospitals across the country have been empanelled and treatment will be done where insurance upon Rs. 2 lakh will be provided.