India has marked a significant milestone in fortifying its health infrastructure and advancing healthcare excellence. According to an official press release, the country has achieved a commendable landmark by creating 1,02,23,619 Ayushman cards during the ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has witnessed a cumulative footfall of 1,31,66,365 in 79,487 health camps conducted across 3,462 Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies. This accomplishment underscores the ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare accessibility and services in various regions.

Within the ambit of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's flagship scheme, the creation of Ayushman cards is actively underway through the Ayushman app, accompanied by the distribution of physical cards to the beneficiaries. As of now, the distribution effort has resulted in the issuance of more than 23,83,473 physical cards, marking significant progress in the implementation of the program.

The official release reports the creation of a total of 6,34,168 Ayushman Cards during health camps. The screening process for TB involves symptom checks, sputum testing, and, where applicable, the utilization of NAAT machines. Suspected TB cases identified during screenings are promptly referred to higher-level health facilities.

According to the press release, the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMA) involves obtaining consent from TB patients for assistance through Nikshay Mitras. On-site registration is offered for attendees willing to become Nikshay Mitras. The release indicates that more than 1,17,734 patients have been granted consent under PMTBMA, and over 39,819 new Nikshay Mitras have been registered.

In the context of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), TB patients receive monetary assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer. To facilitate this, the release notes the collection of bank account details from pending beneficiaries, with efforts to link accounts with Aadhaar.

The release further reports the collection of details for 30,093 beneficiaries under this initiative. These developments highlight the active measures taken to streamline assistance and support for individuals affected by tuberculosis.

In predominantly tribal areas, screening for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) among those up to 40 years old is conducted using point-of-care (PoC) tests or Solubility Tests. Out of 5,08,701 people screened, 21,793 tested positive and were referred to higher public health facilities.

Additionally, screening for Hypertension and Diabetes among those aged 30 and above identified 4,82,667 cases of hypertension and 3,45,898 cases of diabetes, leading to the referral of 7,59,451 individuals to higher public health facilities.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra on November 15 from Khunti, Jharkhand, with the aim of extending the reach of central government schemes nationwide. As part of the Yatra's on-spot services, Health Camps are systematically organized at the Gram Panchayats where the IEC Van halts, ensuring the delivery of essential healthcare services during the journey.

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