Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

Ayushman Sahakar, which was launched on October 19, 2020 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), is a one-of-a-kind scheme that aims to help cooperatives play a key role in the development of healthcare infrastructure in the country.

The COVID epidemic has brought to light the need of having proper healthcare facilities. As a result of this initiative, NCDC would issue term loans to potential cooperatives worth Rs.10,000 crore over the next several years.

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Ayushman Sahakar Scheme [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Ayushman Sahakar – Key Features

• The National Cooperative Development Corporation will make the Ayushman Sahakar Fund available, and any cooperative society with adequate provisions to perform healthcare-related activities would be able to access it.
• A total of Rs.10,000 crore in term loans would be granted to potential cooperatives.
• The major focus will be on the establishment and refurbishment of hospitals, as well as the modernisation, extension, and repairs of healthcare institutes and the growth of healthcare and education infrastructure.
• Working capital and margin money will also be granted to the cooperatives in order to satisfy the requirements.
• Under the Ayushman Sahakar fund A, a 1% interest subvention would be paid to women-majority cooperatives.

Objectives of Ayushman Sahakar

Given below are the key objectives based on which the scheme has been introduced by the Government:

• To support cooperative societies in providing inexpensive and comprehensive healthcare through hospitals, healthcare, and education facilities.
• To support cooperative groups in promoting AYUSH facilities.
• Assist cooperative groups in achieving the goals of the National Health Policy
• To make it easier for cooperative societies to join the National Digital Health Mission.
• Assist cooperative societies in providing complete healthcare, which includes education, services, insurance, and allied activities.

Who are the cooperatives?

International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines cooperatives as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise

Significance of Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

• There are currently 52 cooperatively managed hospitals around the country with a total bed capacity of 5000. This figure can be enhanced with the introduction of Ayushman Sahakar, which would strengthen healthcare services.
• This programme is also in accordance with the 2017 National Health Policy.
• The Ayushman Sahakar plan finance would also help cooperative hospitals pursue medical and AYUSH studies.
• Ayushman Sahakar and the National Digital Health Mission are complementary and would bring about change in rural regions.

• Assistance from the NCDC will be distributed either through state governments/UT administrations or directly to qualified cooperatives.
• Ayushman Sahakar supports the establishment, modernisation, expansion, maintenance, and rebuilding of hospital, healthcare, and educational facilities, including:
  • Hospitals and/or Medical Colleges that provide undergraduate and graduate programmes
  • Ayurveda, Allopathy, Homeopathy, and other traditional medicine healthcare centres are available.
  • Services for the elderly, those with disabilities, and people who are mentally ill.
  • Emergency Medical Services and Mobile Clinic Services
  • Blood banks and drug testing laboratories
  • Reproductive and Child Health Services; Maternal and Child Health Services
  • Health insurance approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, Information and Communication Technology connected to digital health (IRDA)
  • Any additional associated centre or services that NCDC deems appropriate for help, as well as others

About National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

• The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) was founded as a statutory corporation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 1963 by an Act of Parliament.
• Since 1963, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has lent roughly Rs.1.60 lakh billion to cooperatives.
• NCDC's principal role is to organise, promote, and fund programmes for the production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of products, as well as consumer goods supply.
• Apart from Ayushman Sahakar Scheme, two other important schemes launched by NCDC include:
  • Sahakar Mitra Scheme
  • Yuva Sahakar
  • Sahakar Pragya Initiative