Seminar on Ayushman Bharat

Chandigarh, January 18

The Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Ethical and Affordable Health Care (SPEAK), organised a symposium on Ayushman Bharat – Centre’s flagship health and wellness programme on Friday.

Prof BS Ghuman, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, presided over the inaugural function. Prof Ramanjit Kaur Johal, symposium director, said health development was essential for the social and economic development of the country.

Dr Ram Kumar, president, SPEAK India, highlighted the initiatives undertaken by SPEAK. Dr Shweta Mahendru, project director, Ayushman Bharat, Punjab, shared her experience of being actively involved in health insurance schemes in various states, including Punjab. Professor Ghuman, in his presidential address, recommended policy prescriptions such as transparent method in identifying beneficiaries, improving coordination among implementing agencies, ensuring state’s share on a regular basis, organising capacity building programmes for officials and social audit of the scheme.

Vivek Atray, a motivational speaker, chaired the first technical session titled, “Wellness and Fitness vs Patient Care”. The speakers, including Prof JS Thakur, PGI, Chandigarh; Dr PK Taneja, IIPA, New Delhi; and Dr Anurag Sharma, Senior Cardiologist, OJAS Hospital, Panchkula, covered topics related to Ayushman Bharat such as non-communicable diseases, heart diseases, measures to be adopted for achieving the objectives of the programme. The second technical session titled, “Aspects of Health Insurance”, was chaired by AS Chatha, former Chief Secretary, Punjab. — TNS