Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission via video conferencing, stating that it has the potential to bring “revolutionary changes in our health facilities”. According to the Prime Minister, the digital campaign will provide a reliable data connection to all Indian citizens, leading to better treatment and savings for patients.
“Today begins a mission that has the power to bring a revolutionary change in India’s health facilities. Three years ago, on Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary, Ayushman Bharat Yojana was implemented. Happy that Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is being started nationwide from today,” said Modi during the inaugural event.
The scheme is directed at serving the poor and middle class the most by eliminating all problems they face in receiving medical treatment. The key component of the scheme is a unique digital health ID that will be provided to the people and will contain all the health records of the person.
PM Modi also commended the role of the Digital India programme in intensifying the expansion of telemedicine during the pandemic in his address during the launch event.
He stated that the initiative to digitalise healthcare and introducing telemedicine facilities in India has enabled the country to administer close to 900 million COVID-19 vaccine doses thus far with the help of the Co-WIN app, adding that even advanced countries do not have technology such as this. He also acknowledged the role of the Arogya Setu app in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
The event was also attended by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who expressed his happiness over the rollout of the mission. “On 15th August 2020, PM had announced the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission from the ramparts of the Red Fort. I am happy that he is launching it today. I believe that this will bring a revolutionary change in the health sector” he commented.
