Over 2.7 Crore Ayushman Cards Made At Health Camps Under Vikshit Bharat Campaign: Government

The Health Ministry on Tuesday said that over 2.78 million Ayushman Bharat cards have been generated in 2.3 lakh health camps organized in Gram Panchayats and urban local bodies across the country. The ministry said the health camps have generated a total of more than $7.2 million since the campaign was launched on November 15 last year.

Of the 2.78 million Ayushman Bharat cards issued, 51 lakh physical cards have reportedly been distributed. Ayushman cards are generated by Ayushman apps and physical cards are distributed to beneficiaries.

So far, 3.85 million people have been tested for tuberculosis at the health camps, of which 11.8 million have been referred to higher-level public health facilities, the ministry said.

TB patients are screened using symptom identification, sputum testing and NAAT machines when available. Suspected cases of tuberculosis are referred to higher institutions.

TB patients are getting help from Nikshai Mitra under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTMBA). Those who want to become Nikshai Mitras are also offered to register there. Over 4.17 lakh patients have accepted PMTMBBA and 1.18 new Nikshai Mitras have been registered, the ministry said.

Under the Nikshai Poshan Yojana (NPY), financial assistance is provided to TB patients through direct benefit transfer, the Ministry said. Bank details of pending beneficiaries are collected and accounts are created on Aadhaar. The ministry said details of 87,129 beneficiaries were collected.

The ministry also stated that so far more than 42.3 million people have been tested for sickle cell disease, of which 70,995 have tested positive and have been referred to higher-level health facilities.

In areas with more tribal populations, eligible populations (up to 40 years of age) are screened for sickle cell using point-of-care (PoC) testing or disease resolution testing. The ministry said positive diagnoses are sent to higher management centers.

About 5.4 million people are screened for hypertension and diabetes, and suspected positive cases are referred to tertiary centres. More than 20 million people are suspected of having hypertension, more than 14.3 million have diabetes and more than 30.5 million have been referred to higher public health institutions, the ministry said.

On November 15 from Khunti in Jharkhand, the Prime Minister launched the Bhikshit Bharat Sankalp Yatra to avail central government schemes across the country.

As part of Vixit Bharat Sankalp Yatra field services, health camps are being organized at IEC (Information, Education and Communication) stations of Gram Panchayats.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and appeared in a syndicated feed.)