By AK Srivastava
Pradhan Matri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) popularly known as Ayushman Bharat aims at Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for entire population of the country below poverty line. It is the biggest government funded health insurance scheme in the world. Approximately 50 Crore people have been covered under the scheme. All government and many private hospitals are empanelled to provide health care services to the poor upto Rs 5.0 Lakh.
Tata Group has the ethos of caring for the community. Tata Main Hospital (TMH), which was established in 1907, is the first industrial hospital in the country. On 6th Aug, it added another feather in its cap. It opened the country�s first dedicated and exclusive hospital, catering to the needs of the poor under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. An exclusive hospital for Ayushman Bharat Yojana shows the concern of Tata Steel for the weaker section of society in the region. It is in a true sense an alignment of private sector meeting the government mission of achieving public health goals. We have all seen recent spate of violent incidents in city hospitals. Families who lose their loved ones, often resort to violent actions blaming hospital authorities and doctors. The huge influx of patients also makes it difficult for the doctors to provide individuals personal care and attention. A dedicated hospital for the poor under Ayushman Bharat Yojana shows the concern of Tata Steel in caring and giving special attention to the under privileged class. A dedicated hospital will ensure that there is no VIP culture and no special preferences to individuals based on their social status. All have equal priorities based on criticality of medical condition. Even though medical fraternity and doctors, in particular, always attend to patients, based on medical conditions, majority of people always expects preferential treatment based on their social status. This creates anguish and anxiety leading to anger and is one the main reason for conflict. An exclusive hospital for under privileged will ensure that immediate attention is given to the needy and poor people, without any class distinction. They do not have to wait and stand in long queues at hospitals, which is always bypassed by VIPs. The dedicated hospital also has specialist treatment facilities to provide evidence based health care and cost control. It is a win-win situation, both for doctors who have the satisfaction of treating the under privileged people and for the weak and downtrodden in terms of patient satisfaction and improved general health outcome. It will be a boost for people in rural, remote and underserved areas to avail this facility in city under the aegis of Tata Steel�s caring attitude.
Improved health will also ensure better productivity and efficiency in people who make immense contributions but go largely unrecognized. Service to Community and poor has always been the hallmark of Tata Group and Tata Steel has been in the forefront of uplifting the quality of life of weaker sections of society. I would sum up by saying �Execution in true Tata Way of Thinking�.
(AK Srivastava is the President of Jamshedpur Citizen Forum)
