Why does health awareness matter?

Our health is affected by a wide variety of factors, from the genes that we inherit from our parents to the climate we live in and the work we do.

But there is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows our lifestyles play a huge part in how healthy we are.

From what we eat and drink, to how much exercise we take, and whether we smoke or take drugs, all will affect our health, not only in terms of life expectancy, but how long we can expect to live without experiencing chronic disease.

Taking control of your health may seem daunting, particularly for those of us who are trying to change what may be the habit of a lifetime, like smoking. But simple changes, like eating more fruit and vegetables, cutting down on alcohol and taking regular exercise, can and will help you to look and feel better, now and in the future, whatever your age.

Aarogyasri

Aarogyasri or NTR Vaidya Seva is a program of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It covers those below the poverty line. The government issues an Aarogyasri card and the beneficiary can use it at government and private hospitals to obtain services free of cost.

Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Health Insurance Scheme is the flagship scheme of all health initiatives of the State Government with a mission to provide quality healthcare for the poor. The aim of the Government is to achieve “Health for All”. In order to facilitate the effective implementation of the scheme, the State Government set up the AarogyasriHealth Care Trust under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. The trust is administered by a Chief Executive Officer, an IAS Officer. The trust runs the scheme, in consultation with specialists in the field of healthcare.

The beneficiaries of the scheme are the members of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families as enumerated and photographed in White Ration Card linked with Adhar card and available in Civil Supplies Department database. Financial coverage (Height of Universal Health coverage) The scheme shall provide coverage for the services to the beneficiaries up to Rs.2.50 lakh per family per annum on floater basis.

There shall be no co-payment under this scheme. Benefit Coverage (Depth of Universal Health coverage).

Central Government Health Scheme

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) was started under the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1954 with the objective of providing comprehensive medical care facilities to Central Government employees, pensioners and their dependents residing in CGHS covered cities.

The dispensary is the backbone of the Scheme. Instructions on these various matters have been issued from, time to time for the guidance of the specialists and medical Officers. With the rapid and continuous expansion of the Scheme, however, not only situation has changed and problems arisen but also, the rapidly expanding staff have not approved practices, procedures and instructions in regard to their various duties and responsibilities. In the following paragraphs is set out the gist of provisions of the Scheme, various instructions and order issued from time to time to serve as a Compendium for the guidance of the CGHS staff.

National Rural Health Mission

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), now under National Health Mission, is an initiative undertaken by the government of India to address the health needs of under-served rural areas. Launched in April 2005 by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the NRHM was initially tasked with addressing the health needs of 18 states that had been identified as having weak public health indicators. The Union Cabinet headed by Dr.Manmohan Singh vide its decision dated 1 May 2013, has approved the launch of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a Sub-mission of an overarching National Health Mission (NHM), with National Rural Health mission (NRHM) being the other Sub-mission of National Health Mission.

Under the NRHM, the Empowered Action Group (EAG) States as well as North Eastern States, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have been given special focus. The thrust of the mission is on establishing a fully functional, community owned, decentralized health delivery system with inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, to ensure simultaneous action on a wide range of determinants of health such as water, sanitation, education, nutrition, social and gender equality. Institutional integration within the fragmented health sector was expected to provide a focus on outcomes, measured against Indian Public Health Standards for all health facilities.