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Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

The Ayushman Sahakar Scheme was launched on October 19, 2020, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). This initiative aims to support cooperatives in building essential healthcare infrastructure across the country, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the need for improved healthcare facilities. Under this scheme, the NCDC plans to provide term loans to cooperatives amounting to Rs. 10,000 crore in the coming years.

The Ayushman Sahakar Fund, accessible through the NCDC, is designed to aid cooperatives in establishing and renovating hospitals, modernizing and expanding healthcare institutions, and developing healthcare and education infrastructure. The scheme also offers support for working capital and margin money to cooperatives, with an interest subvention of 1% for those with a majority of women members.

Objectives of Ayushman Sahakar

• To provide affordable and comprehensive healthcare through hospitals, healthcare, and education facilities by cooperative societies.
• To promote AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) facilities by cooperative societies.
• To empower cooperative societies in achieving the goals set out by the National Health Policy.
• To enable cooperative societies to participate in the National Digital Health Mission.
• To assist cooperative societies in providing holistic healthcare, including education, services, insurance, and related 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

Importance of the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

• Currently, there are around 52 hospitals in India managed by cooperatives, offering a total of 5000 beds.
• With the implementation of the Ayushman Sahakar scheme, this number is expected to increase, thereby improving healthcare services.
• The scheme is in line with the National Health Policy of 2017.
• The Ayushman Sahakar fund will assist cooperative hospitals in pursuing medical and AYUSH education.
• The Ayushman Sahakar initiative and the National Digital Health Mission are designed to complement each other, potentially revolutionizing rural healthcare.
• Assistance from the NCDC will be provided through State Governments or directly to eligible cooperatives.

Areas Covered by the Scheme

The scheme covers various aspects related to the establishment, modernization, expansion, repair, and renovation of hospitals and healthcare facilities, including:

• Hospitals and/or Medical Colleges for undergraduate and/or postgraduate programmes
• Yoga wellness centres, Ayurveda, Allopathy, Homeopathy, and other traditional medicine centres
• Healthcare services for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the mentally challenged
• Mobile Clinic Services and Emergency Medical Services
• Drug testing laboratories and blood banks
• Maternal health and childcare services; Reproductive and Child Health services
• Information and Communication Technology related to digital health
• Health insurance accredited by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)
• Any other related centres or services as deemed fit by NCDC for assistance

Also, visit Affordable Healthcare: RSTV – In Depth

Introduction to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

• The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is a statutory body established in 1963 by an Act of Parliament under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Since its inception, NCDC has disbursed around Rs. 1.60 lakh crore in loans to cooperatives.
• NCDC's primary functions include planning, promoting, and financing programs for various activities such as production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of products, and supply of consumer goods.
• Apart from the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme, NCDC has also introduced the Sahakar Mitra Scheme, Yuva Sahakar, and Sahakar Pragya Initiative.