Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik to implement the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in the state.

Earlier, the Odisha government was opposed to Ayushman Bharat and had claimed that the scheme would not serve the people of the state well. In fact, Odisha had introduced its own health scheme, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, prior to the 2019 general elections.

In a letter to the chief minister, Pradhan said, “NDHM leverages the transformative power of e-governance by introducing the concept of a unique healthcare ID for every citizen in India. The UHID (Unique Healthcare ID) will be a repository of all health-related information of a person such as medical tests, previous prescriptions, diagnosis, all historical health records.”

Pradhan, who is from Odisha, maintained that the UHID would liberate citizens from the challenges of finding doctors in different locations, seeking appointment, payment of consultation fee, making several visits for prescription, etc, and it will empower them to take informed decisions for availing the best possible healthcare services.

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the nationwide portability of the UHID will greatly benefit migrant workers who will be able to digitally access all their health records anywhere in the country while seeking medical treatment.

“NDHM will not only improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of health delivery service in the country but will also be a major stride towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 of universal health coverage, including financial risk protection,” Pradhan said.

Dharmendra Pradhan Telegraph picture

Citing that the NDHM will be implemented by National Health Authority, the apex central government agency responsible for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Pradhan said it will offer maximum benefit to states when integrated with the Jan Arogya Yojana.

“Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a game changer and an opportunity to serve the poor. The scheme seeks to cover 50 crore beneficiaries in the country, including 60 lakh beneficiaries from Odisha,” Pradhan said.

He also urged Patnaik to “extend whole-hearted support” to the implementation of the NDHM, which will provide timely and efficient access to inclusive, affordable, and safe healthcare to the people of Odisha.