Page 22 - NIS English 16-30 September, 2025

COVER STORY | Health

in villages and mohallas, especially for diseases like
high blood pressure, diabetes. Due to this scheme,
more than 200 crore tests have been done so far,
which helps in early identification of diseases and
reduces the need for expensive treatment. Also,
under the “Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health
Infrastructure Mission” launched in October 2021,
hospitals in the country have been improved by
spending more than Rs 64,000 crore. In areas that
were previously left behind, special arrangements
for critical patients, monitoring centers, and primary
health units have now been created.

EVERY ELDERLY PERSON GETS RELIEF Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
FROM HEALTH WORRIES
India’s elderly population is steadily rising. According More Than crore Ayushman Bharat
Health Accounts
to a report, the number of elderly people will be 17 80.47 (ABHA) created
crore by 2026, about 23 crore by 2036, and 35 crore
by the year 2050, that is, more than 20 percent of
the total population. In the last few years, the main crore electronic health
records have been linked
reasons for the continuous increase in the popu- 71.44 to various health portals
lation of senior citizens are the impactful schemes
related to health, pension, and self-employment and More Than lakh verified health
self-reliance by the central government for them. facility centers
Senior citizens should not only live a long life but also 4.21 registered.
live a safe, respectful, creative, and dignified life. For More Than lakh verified health
this, a revolutionary step was taken under the Ayush- professionals
man Bharat scheme at the end of 2024. Now every 6.93 registered.
Indian citizen of 70 years and above has been includ-
ed in this scheme, irrespective of their income or (Note: Data till 1 September-2025)
background. With this, about 6 crore elderly people Telemedicine service e-Sanjeevani
started getting treatment facilities. At this stage of
age, when health concerns are high, it has become Now offers treatment at home
a sensitive effort to get rid of it. Now the elderly will In the year 2020, during the time of Covid, when
be able to get free treatment even in big hospitals. By it became difficult for people to consult doctors
January 2025, more than 40 lakh elderly people had even for minor diseases, free tele consultation was
enrolled in this scheme, so that they did not have to started in the form of e-Sanjeevani with the aim
of free and remote medical consultation.
worry about health issues.

SCHEME BECAME A BOON FOR WOMEN 36+ 130 2,32,291
Women and frontline health workers have been the crore specialty Healthcare
major strength and beneficiaries of the Ayushman people have doctors are providers have
Bharat scheme. Under this scheme, about 49 percent benefited available on been linked to it
of Ayushman cards belong to women, and 48 percent so far. e-Sanjeevani. so far.
of those admitted to the hospital are women. In Febru-
ary 2024, the government also included 37 lakh Asha

20 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || September 16-30, 2025