Testing, treatment made available for free under Ayushman Bharat scheme 

Testing, treatment made available for free under Ayushman Bharat scheme 

 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health; Welfare schemes  

In News: 

• The Central government has decided to provide free testing and treatment of COVID-19 under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. 

Key takeaways: 

• The empaneled hospitals can use their own authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility for the scheme.  
• These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).  

• Private labs approved by the ICMR can carry out the tests.  
• Private hospitals shall also be covered under Ayushman Bharat Scheme to increase the rate of testing.  

Important value additions: 

Ayushman Bharat Scheme. 

• It is a flagship scheme of the Indian government’s National Health Policy.  
• It aims to provide free health coverage at the secondary and tertiary level to its bottom 40% poor and vulnerable population.  
• It is the world’s largest and fully state sponsored health assurance scheme.