What is the Impact of Rs 7,704 Cr Hospital Admissions Under AB-PMJAY for Maternal and Child Health?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rs 7,704 crore allocated for maternal and child health admissions under AB-PMJAY.
- Over 72 lakh hospital admissions recorded under the Health Benefit Package 2022.
- AB-PMJAY operational in 35 states and Union Territories.
- Government initiatives aim to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
- ASHAs play a vital role in connecting communities with healthcare services.
New Delhi, July 22 (NationPress) Hospital admissions totaling Rs 7,704 crore have been utilized under the maternal and child health initiatives of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), as revealed by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel during the Parliament session on Tuesday.
In a formal response to the Rajya Sabha, Patel highlighted that the Health Benefit Package 2022 (introduced in 2022) facilitated over 72 lakh hospital admissions for mothers and children.
“The Health Benefit Package 2022 (HBP 2022) of AB-PMJAY includes 28 packages focused on maternal health and 13 for child health. To date, there have been 72.13 lakhs hospital admissions under these packages, amounting to Rs 7,704.37 crores,” stated Patel.
AB-PMJAY is currently active in 35 States and Union Territories, including the recent inclusion of Odisha and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Patel emphasized that the government has implemented numerous initiatives under the National Health Mission (NHM) to enhance maternal and newborn health outcomes throughout the nation.
These initiatives encompass the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), improving postnatal care, community health, sanitation, and nutrition days, establishing Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and Newborn Stabilisation Units (NBSUs), along with campaigns addressing pneumonia, diarrhoea, and Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB).
Additionally, Patel highlighted the critical role of ASHAs in enhancing maternal and child healthcare in India.
“The primary healthcare teams at Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), including frontline workers like ASHAs and ANMs, provide comprehensive primary healthcare through 12 service packages,” she noted.
These offerings encompass care during pregnancy and childbirth, neonatal and infant health services, as well as childhood and adolescent health services at the community level.
At the community level, ASHAs act as vital links between communities and the public health system, facilitating greater access to maternal and child healthcare services by encouraging women to attend antenatal check-ups, institutional deliveries, and postnatal care, which contributes to improved maternal and child health outcomes, according to the MoS.
ASHAs also perform home visits to identify danger signs and counsel mothers on optimal feeding practices under the Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Children (HBYC) programs, Patel added.