Chapter 8:Universal Health Coverage in J&K

Introduction

• The adage "prevention is better than cure" is especially true in the post-pandemic period.
• By establishing the idea of "Good Health and Well-Being," the Sustainable Development Goal (SEC-3) emphasises the value of preventive.
• A strategic priority of the World Health Organization (WHO), universal health coverage (UHC) under SDG target 3.8 builds on the foundation to provide a blanket of assurance for end-to-end range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), despite the fact that "Health" is classified as a State Subject in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution, continues to put a lot of money into the State systems.

Some MoHFW Initiatives

• The Ministry has created a strong grassroots cadre of health professionals under the National Health Mission (NHM), including ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers.
• A comprehensive coverage system has also been implemented thanks to the growth of the network of ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) and other field healthcare workers.
• The largest recent intervention in improving primary level healthcare is the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC) of NHM, a flagship programme of the Government of India.
• According to reports, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is the health sector's most comprehensive involvement in a decade.
• A significant programme in J&K is the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which aims to cover BPL patients' inpatient department (IPD) bills free of charge nationwide with an annual cover of Rs 5 lakh.

Achievements in J&K's Health Coverage

• The Health Management Information System (HMIS) and RCH Portal both show that the general public reaction to community-based initiatives in the region has been good.
• These portals have made it possible to continuously monitor and evaluate fieldwork while also giving an overview of the sheer volume of services that have been provided. As a result, the UT of J&K has experienced improved health outcomes, including a decline in the infant and neonatal mortality rates.
• By ensuring population-based screenings at HWCs for significant Non-Communicable diseases like Diabetes and Common Cancers, J&K is enabling early diagnosis of diseases closer to home.
• Ophthalmology care, ENT care, elderly care, and palliative care are only a few of the disorders that are now included in screening.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) might be the most comprehensive effort to influence the health industry this decade. No other type of data is more valuable or unique than a person's unique health record, thus if data is the new oil, then health data is the new gold.