Launched on October 19, 2020, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme is an initiative by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to bolster the healthcare infrastructure in India, particularly through cooperatives. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for better healthcare facilities, and this scheme aims to address that gap by providing term loans to cooperatives involved in healthcare.
Key Features of the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme
- Fund Allocation: NCDC will provide ₹10,000 crore in term loans to eligible cooperative societies.
- Healthcare Focus: The scheme supports the establishment, renovation, modernization, and expansion of healthcare institutions, including hospitals and educational infrastructure related to healthcare.
- Women Majority Cooperatives: Cooperatives with a majority of women will receive an interest subvention of 1%.
- Comprehensive Support: Apart from healthcare infrastructure, the scheme also provides working capital and margin money for cooperatives.
Objectives of the Scheme
The Ayushman Sahakar scheme is based on several key objectives:
- Assist cooperatives in providing affordable and holistic healthcare through hospitals and healthcare/education facilities.
- Promote AYUSH facilities (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) through cooperatives.
- Help cooperatives achieve the goals of the National Health Policy, 2017.
- Facilitate cooperative participation in the National Digital Health Mission.
- Support cooperatives in offering comprehensive healthcare services, including insurance and education.
Significance of Ayushman Sahakar
- Currently, around 52 hospitals are run by cooperatives across India, with a bed strength of about 5,000. This scheme aims to significantly increase that number.
- The scheme aligns with the National Health Policy, 2017, and the National Digital Health Mission, promoting the modernization of rural healthcare services.
- By providing financial assistance, Ayushman Sahakar will help cooperatives create or expand healthcare institutions offering services like maternal health, child care, mental health, and emergency services.
Areas Covered Under Ayushman Sahakar
The scheme includes support for:
- Hospitals and medical colleges for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs.
- Wellness centers offering traditional and modern healthcare systems like Ayurveda, Allopathy, and Homeopathy.
- Services for the elderly, disabled, and mentally challenged individuals.
- Mobile Clinics, drug testing laboratories, blood banks, and emergency medical services.
- ICT (Information and Communication Technology) related to digital health.
Role of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
The NCDC, established by an Act of Parliament in 1963, plays a pivotal role in planning, promoting, and financing cooperative programs related to production, marketing, healthcare, and more. The corporation has provided around ₹1.60 lakh crore in loans to cooperatives since its inception.
In addition to Ayushman Sahakar, the NCDC runs other significant schemes, including:
- Sahakar Mitra Scheme: Focused on internships for youth in cooperatives.
- Yuva Sahakar: Aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs in cooperatives.
- Sahakar Pragya: An initiative to train cooperative members in new technologies and best practices.
The Ayushman Sahakar Scheme represents a vital step toward strengthening India's healthcare infrastructure through cooperatives, improving accessibility and affordability of healthcare services, especially in rural areas.
