Tag: Health Minister

  • Over 5.6 crore hospital admissions worth Rs. 69,000 crore under PM-JAY scheme: Mandaviya

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 5.6 crore hospital admission worth over Rs. 69,000 crore has been made under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the government’s ambitious flagship health insurance scheme, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday.

    Speaking at the valedictory session of Arogya Manthan 2023, which celebrated the completion of five years of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and two years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDM), Mandaviya said that many of these hospital admissions had been availed for life-threatening diseases, whose total cost of treatment would have been 1.5-2 times higher if the beneficiaries would have availed the same treatment on their own outside the ambit of the scheme. 

    “When PM-JAY was launched, health was not on the top of the agenda for many. But today, we have come a long way in our journey, crossing the milestone of over 5.6 crore hospital admissions worth over Rs. 69,000 crore. We can see the transformational value of AB PM-JAY,” he said.

    Mandaviya emphasized the significance of the Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY initiative, which has been touted as the world’s most extensive government-funded healthcare program, targeting more than 50 crore beneficiaries, in putting women at the front and center of the national conversation on health. Under the scheme, health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year is given, which is entirely cashless and paperless.

    “Females account for approximately 49% of Ayushman card recipients, verified under the PM-JAY IT platform. Women have availed more than 48% of authorized hospital admissions while over 141 medical procedures under PM-JAY are exclusively earmarked for women,” he said.

    At the occasion, he also felicitated five-year-old Karishma, the first beneficiary of the scheme in the country and who is as old as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

    He also awarded top-performing states and Union Territories in various categories.  The award for highest Ayushman Card creation was given to Assam, Nagaland, and Jammu and Kashmir. 

    Karnataka and Tripura were awarded for the highest percentage of utilisation in public hospitals of the scheme.

    For ABDM, Andhra Pradesh was awarded as the top state in linking health records with ABHA, while Uttar Pradesh emerged as the leading state in the generation of ABHA scan and share tokens. 

    He also said that more than 45 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been generated in the last two years. 

    “These ABHA accounts have been linked to over 30 crore health records. The scheme attempts to improve healthcare delivery by harnessing digital technologies,” he said. 

    Mandaviya also highlighted the launch of two new initiatives, Aapke Dwar Ayushman (ADA 3.0) launched by NHA and the Ayushman Bhav campaign. President Droupadi Murmu launched the Ayushman Bhav initiative on September 13. 

     The two initiatives are designed to give a further push to increasing health coverage in the country, he added.

    NEW DELHI: Over 5.6 crore hospital admission worth over Rs. 69,000 crore has been made under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the government’s ambitious flagship health insurance scheme, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday.

    Speaking at the valedictory session of Arogya Manthan 2023, which celebrated the completion of five years of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and two years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDM), Mandaviya said that many of these hospital admissions had been availed for life-threatening diseases, whose total cost of treatment would have been 1.5-2 times higher if the beneficiaries would have availed the same treatment on their own outside the ambit of the scheme. 

    “When PM-JAY was launched, health was not on the top of the agenda for many. But today, we have come a long way in our journey, crossing the milestone of over 5.6 crore hospital admissions worth over Rs. 69,000 crore. We can see the transformational value of AB PM-JAY,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Mandaviya emphasized the significance of the Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY initiative, which has been touted as the world’s most extensive government-funded healthcare program, targeting more than 50 crore beneficiaries, in putting women at the front and center of the national conversation on health. Under the scheme, health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year is given, which is entirely cashless and paperless.

    “Females account for approximately 49% of Ayushman card recipients, verified under the PM-JAY IT platform. Women have availed more than 48% of authorized hospital admissions while over 141 medical procedures under PM-JAY are exclusively earmarked for women,” he said.

    At the occasion, he also felicitated five-year-old Karishma, the first beneficiary of the scheme in the country and who is as old as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

    He also awarded top-performing states and Union Territories in various categories.  The award for highest Ayushman Card creation was given to Assam, Nagaland, and Jammu and Kashmir. 

    Karnataka and Tripura were awarded for the highest percentage of utilisation in public hospitals of the scheme.

    For ABDM, Andhra Pradesh was awarded as the top state in linking health records with ABHA, while Uttar Pradesh emerged as the leading state in the generation of ABHA scan and share tokens. 

    He also said that more than 45 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been generated in the last two years. 

    “These ABHA accounts have been linked to over 30 crore health records. The scheme attempts to improve healthcare delivery by harnessing digital technologies,” he said. 

    Mandaviya also highlighted the launch of two new initiatives, Aapke Dwar Ayushman (ADA 3.0) launched by NHA and the Ayushman Bhav campaign. President Droupadi Murmu launched the Ayushman Bhav initiative on September 13. 

     The two initiatives are designed to give a further push to increasing health coverage in the country, he added.

  • Need to be vigilant even though COVID-19 cases reducing: Health minister Mandaviya to eastern states

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: There is still a need to be vigilant and not lower the guard even though the active cases of COVID-19 in most of the states and the positivity rate have shown a fall in the last two weeks, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in an interaction with five eastern states on Saturday.

    State health ministers, principal secretaries/ additional chief secretaries and information commissioners of Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal participated in the meeting, according to an official release.

    Mandaviya urged them to monitor the case positivity rate on a daily basis and increase the RT-PCR testing rate as most of the states exhibited a lower share of such tests.

    “While the active cases in most of the states and the positivity rate have shown a fall in the last two weeks, we still need to be vigilant and not lower our guard,” he stated.

    The states were also advised to keep a close watch on the number of hospitalisations and deaths.

    “It is important to analyse at the state level the proportion of vaccinated and unvaccinated of the hospitalised cases, the deaths and those on ventilators and oxygen support”, he advised them.

    Mandaviya said that irrespective of the COVID variants, ‘test-track-treat-vaccinate and adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour’ continue to remain the tested strategy for COVID-19 management.

    He reiterated his advice for all states to fully and effectively utilise the ECRP-II funds for strengthening the existing healthcare infrastructure and create new as per requirement.

    As the located funds under ECRP-II shall lapse on March 31, 2022, states were requested to review the progress on a regular basis, as this healthcare infrastructure will not only be utilised during the present pandemic, but will serve the people in the future too.

    He reminded them to complete installation and commissioning of the PSA plants, LMO storage tanks and MGPS expeditiously.

    Noting that vaccination is a critical tool for pandemic management, Mandaviya advised the states to accelerate vaccination of all eligible populations, especially of the 15-17 age group and those whose second dose is due.

    Highlighting the importance of teleconsultation through platforms such as eSanjeevani, he suggested establishing teleconsultation hubs in every district hospital.

    He also mooted ramping up the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) at the earliest as it will help the masses and enable healthcare access to the remote areas of the country.

    These can be used not only during the ongoing pandemic but also for non-COVID healthcare, he said.

    There was a comprehensive and detailed discussion on various aspects of COVID management including ramping up of hospital infrastructure; increased testing, stress on COVID-appropriate behaviour and stringent restrictive measures for breaking the chain of transmission.

    The states shared their best practices at the review meeting.

    Jharkhand informed about collecting data of migrant workers for vaccination.

    Chhattisgarh mentioned that a proper analysis of vaccinated and non-vaccinated people who tested positive is being made, while Bihar highlighted their initiative of doorstep delivery of medicines to COVID-19 positive patients in home isolation through Speed Post.

    PTI UZM RT RT 01291915 NNNN

  • 60 per cent of India’s adult population fully vaccinated: Health minister

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Over 60 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday, December 23, 2021.

    “Accomplishing more new feats! Congratulations India. Aided by public participation & dedicated efforts of our health workers, over 60 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated now,” he said in a tweet.

    Accomplishing more new feats!Congratulations India Aided by public participation & dedicated efforts of our health workers, over 60% of the eligible population fully vaccinated now #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine pic.twitter.com/cts7lR8SzA
    — Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 23, 2021
    Besides, around 89 per cent of India’s adults have been administered the first dose, according to health ministry officials.

    With the administration of 70,17,671 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses given in the country have exceeded 139.70 crore as per provisional reports till 7 am.

    This has been achieved in 1,47,94,783 sessions.

  • Statement on modern women unwilling to marry and bear children was taken out of context: Minister

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Monday said his statement on modern women unwilling to marry and bear children at an event in NIMHANS was taken out of context and that he had no intention of singling out women and it was based on a survey, which cited statistics on what the younger generation felt about it.

    During the World Mental Health Day at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS) on Sunday, Sudhakar had said, “Today, I am sorry to say this, lots of modern women in India want to stay single. Even if they get married, they don’t want to give birth. They want surrogacy. So there is a paradigm shift in our thinking, which is not good.” Issuing a clarification on Monday, Sudhakar said, “It is unfortunate that a small part of my address out of the nineteen and a half minutes long speech during the World Mental Health Day programme at NIMHANS on Sunday is taken out of context and thereby losing out on the larger point I was trying to make at the prestigious National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.”

    He said that being a father of a daughter and medical doctor by training, he understood the sensitivities around women and also the mental health issues.

    Sudhakar said that it is widely established through research and studies that in a situation where the mental health resource is a scarcity, families form a valuable support system, which could be helpful in management of various stressful situations.

    Indian society is collectivistic and promotes social cohesion and interdependence. The traditional Indian joint family, which follows the same principles of collectivism, has proved itself to be an excellent resource for the care of the mentally ill, he said.

    “Unlike western society, which puts the impetus on ‘individualism’, the Indian society is ‘collectivistic’ in that it promotes interdependence and co-operation, with the family forming the focal point of this social structure,” the minister said.

    According to him, the Indian and Asian families are therefore, far more involved in caring of its members and also suffer greater illness burden than their western counterparts.

    Sudhakar added that the Indian families are more intimate with the patient, and are capable of taking greater therapeutic participation than in the west.

    To substantiate his claim, he cited a research paper published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry.

    Sudhakar said his statement about younger generation shying away from marriage and reproduction is also based on a survey.

    The findings of YouGov-Mint-CPR Millennial Survey shows that, among millennials, 19 per cent aren’t interested in either children or marriage, the Minister said. He added that another eight per cent want children, but are not interested in marriage.

    “Among post-millennials (or Gen Z adults), 23 per cent aren’t interested in either children or marriage. As in the case of millennials, eight per cent want children, but are not interested in marriage. There are very little gender-wise differences in these trends. It is applicable to both boys and girls,” Sudhakar said.

    The minister said he was trying to convey that youth can find solution and solace to mental health issues like anxiety, depression and stress in our traditional family and its value system, which offers a wonderful support system.

    “I would like to clarify that I had no intention to single out women nor did my words mean so,” Sudhakar clarified. He also asked people to go through his full speech on his Facebook page.

  • India administers over 1 crore Covid vaccine doses, highest in a day

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India administered more than one crore COVID-19 vaccine doses on Friday, the highest ever in a day, the Union Health Ministry said.

    According to the CoWIN portal, the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country has crossed 62,17,06,882 doses.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed those behind the vaccination drive and also praised people getting inoculated.

    Record vaccination numbers today!Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 27, 2021
    “Record vaccination numbers today! Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success,” he tweeted.

    Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a tweet, said, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. This is the same effort by which the country has crossed the figure of more than 1 crore vaccines in one day. This is the result of tireless work of health workers and PM Narendra Modi.”

    According to the CoWIN portal, 1,00,64,032 jabs were administered on Friday.

    On August 17, over 88 lakh doses of the vaccine were administered across the country.

    A total of 30,85,06,160 people in the age group of 18-44 years have received vaccine doses while 23,98,99,849 beneficiaries in the age group of over 45 years have received jabs, according to the health ministry.

    The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry said.

  • Challenges aplenty on tricky track for new health minister Mansukh Mandaviya

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Mansukh Mandaviya is India’s new health minister. Harsh Vardhan’s departure from the post hardly came as a surprise. Most felt that he is being made a fall guy even though the onus of mishandling of the Covid second wave does not stop with him alone. 

    This was the second stint of Vardhan, an ENT doctor himself, as the Union health minister. Ironically, both ended abruptly. The first lasted only seven months during the first term of the Narendra Modi government in 2014. There is a major difference between the two departures the first was sudden but quiet, the second is seen as a punishment for failing to coordinate better with the states and giving false assurances. At one point before the torrential second wave, Vardhan had said the disease was looking at an “end game”.

    Those watching his work closely said the government is aware that the response to Covid-19 management has been inadequate and has led to major dissatisfaction. “In the first wave, the government was unprepared in the beginning but it went somewhat better because of the low number of cases and coordination with states worked fine,” said a member of the national Covid task force who did not want to be named. “However, everything that could go wrong went haywire in the second.

    Partly, it was also Vardhan’s fault who did not read the signs well, was not assertive and was confrontational with the states.” Other experts stressed that while the second wave has subsided substantially, there will still be a massive challenge facing the new minister. “This pandemic has broken the trust in the government health system and that trust needs to be brought back,” said health systems and policy specialist Chandrakant Lahariya. “The new minister will need to recommit himself to implement proposals that have been announced in the last 16 months.”

    Health economist Rijo M John, who has been monitoring the situation in India, said the major challenge for the health minister will be vaccinating as many people as possible with the short supply and before another wave. “There is also increasing vaccine hesitancy, especially among the elderly. In the interest of limiting the severity of future waves, vaccines may need to be taken to doorsteps.”

    ‘Needs careful navigation’ Public health researcher Oommen John said: “Legacies of redundant health information systems, lack of data for proactive policy and a large workforce of underpaid health workforce will need to be carefully navigated.”

  • Harsh Vardhan steps down as Union health minister ahead of cabinet reshuffle

    By Online Desk
    Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday resigned from the Union Cabinet ahead of the nuch-awaited cabinet reshuffle later in the evening. The Minister of state for health Ashwini Chaube also stepped down a little later.

    Their resignations come at a time when the central government is at the receiving end of criticism over its handling of the brutal Covid second wave that left lakhs dead and many more desperate for oxygen and hospital beds. 

    The new health minister will have several challenges ahead as the government battles to avoid a third Covid wave.

    Among the pressing challenges is vaccinating all Indians above the age of 18 as soon as possible. This at a time when vaccine supply constraints are being highlighted by countless state governments.

    At a bigger level is the need to ramp up the health infrastructure across the country even as health spend in the union budget still lags behind in comparison to the developed countries of the world.  

    The first rejig in PM Modi’s second term will see 43 new ministers taking the oath of office on Wednesdday evening. 

  • Health Minister Shri TS Singhdev gave the gift of dialysis machine to the residents of Jashpur.

    Chhattisgarh Government Panchayat and Rural Development, Public Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education Scheme, Economic and Statistics, Minister Shri TS Singhdev today gifted 05 dialysis machines to the residents of Jashpur district at a cost of about 35 lakhs through virtual. Collector Shri Mahadev Kavre, Chief Executive Officer of District Panchayat Shri KS Mandavi, Chief Medical and Health Officer Shri P. Suthar, Civil Surgeon F Khakha, Jeevan Deep Committee members Shri Ajay Gupta and Shri Suraj Chaurasia were present from the virtual.
    Giving his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes, the Health Minister said that now the patients of Jashpur district will not have to go out for dialysis. Now they will get the facility in Jashpur only. Giving his heartfelt congratulations and good wishes, Collector Shri Mahadev Kavre said that 05 machines have been installed in the District Hospital Hospital. The cost of one machine is around 6-7 lakhs.
    He told that so far 05 patients have registered, out of which 02 are being treated. A maximum of 10 patients can be given dialysis facility in a day. If needed, by increasing the capacity, 15 patients can also be treated. A patient requires 130-140 water in an hour. All the medicines used during dialysis will be provided free of cost. It takes 4 hours for a patient to undergo dialysis.

  • Health Minister talked to mountaineer Naina, said – not only Chhag but also brought fame to the country

    Naina Dhakad of Chhattisgarh, with her indomitable courage, courage and perseverance, has hoisted 6 flags including the country-state and Amcho Bastar on the highest peak of Mount Everest. Naina Dhakad has brought fame not only to Chhattisgarh but also to the country with her courage. In this episode, Health Minister TS Singhdev discussed with mountaineer Naina. During this, he said that you have become a source of inspiration for all the youth of Bastar. Singhdeo spoke to mountaineer Naina Dhakad.
    Health Minister TS Singhdev interacted with mountaineer Naina Dhakad through video conferencing. Naina Dhakad, a resident of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, has brought fame not only to Chhattisgarh but also to the country by climbing Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain peak.

    climbed 16-17 mountains
    During discussion with Health Minister TS Singhdev, Naina Dhakad told that she has been engaged in mountaineering for 10 years. Naina, who has been training in mountaineering since the age of 20, has climbed 16-17 mountains with hard work and dedication, facing all the challenges.

  • CM Baghel discusses global tender with health minister, state government can buy vaccine from abroad

    State governments are preparing to purchase vaccines from abroad. Explain that for the global tender of vaccine, CM Bhupesh Baghel has discussed with Health Minister TS Singhdev. TS Singhdev said that the global tender of vaccine has been discussed by CM Bhupesh Baghel. There was talk about buying a vaccine from abroad. Currently, we will see the report of the global tendering states. After this, the purchase process will be carried forward. He said that the Center should make a global tender from an agency. Due to this, there will be no price competition in the states. Center should tender then ask for payment from all states.