The Ayushman Sahakar Scheme, launched on October 19, 2020, by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, aims to strengthen India's healthcare infrastructure through cooperatives. The scheme addresses the urgent need for enhanced healthcare facilities, a necessity highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing financial assistance to cooperative societies involved in healthcare services.
Key Features
- Funding Allocation: A total of ₹10,000 crore is earmarked for term loans to eligible cooperative societies.
- Healthcare Focus: Supports the establishment, renovation, modernization, and expansion of healthcare institutions, including hospitals and related educational infrastructure.
- Women Majority Cooperatives: Offers an interest subvention of 1% for cooperatives where women constitute the majority.
- Comprehensive Support: Provides additional financial assistance for working capital and margin money to cooperatives.
Objectives
- Affordable Healthcare: Assist cooperatives in providing accessible and holistic healthcare services through hospitals and educational facilities.
- Promotion of AYUSH: Encourage the integration of traditional healthcare systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
- Alignment with National Policies: Support the goals of the National Health Policy, 2017, and facilitate cooperative participation in the National Digital Health Mission.
- Comprehensive Services: Enable cooperatives to offer a wide range of healthcare services, including insurance and education.
Significance
- Expansion of Cooperative Healthcare: Aims to increase the number of cooperative-run hospitals beyond the existing 52 hospitals with approximately 5,000 beds.
- Rural Healthcare Modernization: Enhances healthcare services in rural areas by modernizing facilities and expanding access.
- Diverse Healthcare Services: Supports services such as maternal and child health, mental health, emergency services, and care for the elderly and disabled.
Areas Covered
- Medical Institutions: Establishment of hospitals and medical colleges offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
- Wellness Centers: Development of centers providing both traditional and modern healthcare services.
- Specialized Services: Facilities for the elderly, disabled, and mentally challenged individuals.
- Support Services: Includes mobile clinics, drug testing laboratories, blood banks, and emergency medical services.
- Digital Health Infrastructure: Investment in information and communication technology related to digital health initiatives.
Role of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
Established in 1963 under an Act of Parliament, the NCDC is pivotal in planning, promoting, and financing cooperative programs across various sectors, including healthcare. It has disbursed approximately ₹1.60 lakh crore in loans to cooperatives since its inception. Besides the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme, the NCDC also implements other significant initiatives:
- Sahakar Mitra Scheme: Provides internship opportunities for youth in cooperatives.
- Yuva Sahakar: Supports young entrepreneurs in the cooperative sector.
- Sahakar Pragya: Offers training to cooperative members on new technologies and best practices.
The Ayushman Sahakar Scheme represents a strategic move to enhance India's healthcare system by leveraging the cooperative sector. By improving the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services, especially in rural areas, the scheme contributes significantly to the nation's overall well-being.
