As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet 3.0 marks its first 100 days in office, the Indian government has rolled out an array of transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility and medical education. These initiatives reflect a commitment to building a healthier, better-educated society and a vision for a self-reliant India.

1) Expanding Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

One of the standout initiatives is the expansion of the **Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)**. Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, this expansion offers health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their income. This move is projected to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, providing them with ₹5 lakh in free health insurance cover per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. With this, AB PM-JAY now stands as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, encompassing 55 crore individuals across 12.34 crore families.

2) Launch of the U-WIN Portal

In a bid to modernize vaccination services, the government has launched the **U-WIN Portal**, aimed at the complete digitization of vaccination records for pregnant women and children up to 17 years old. The platform offers features such as self-registration, automated SMS alerts, and QR-based eVaccination certificates, making it easier for citizens to access vaccination services. As of September 16, 2024, over 6.46 crore beneficiaries have registered on the U-WIN Portal, with 23.06 crore vaccine doses administered.

3) Introduction of the National Medical Register Portal

The government also introduced the **National Medical Register (NMR) Portal**, designed to streamline the registration of MBBS doctors in India. Mandated under the NMC Act of 2019, the NMR serves as a comprehensive electronic database linking doctors’ details with their Aadhaar IDs, ensuring authenticity. This portal enables various stakeholders, including State Medical Councils and educational institutions, to verify medical practitioners efficiently.

4) Duty Exemptions for Cancer Drugs

In a significant move to support cancer patients, the government has exempted customs duty on three essential cancer medications: Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab. This exemption is expected to benefit around 27 lakh cancer patients in India. Additionally, revisions to customs duty rates on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors aim to enhance the domestic medical device sector, making advanced medical imaging more affordable.

5) Increased Budget for National Health Mission

The budget expenditure for the **National Health Mission (NHM)** has seen an increase of approximately ₹4,000 crore, raising the total from ₹31,550 crore to ₹36,000 crore for FY 2024-25. This funding is crucial for strengthening primary and secondary healthcare services, focusing on preventive and curative healthcare to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures for the public.

6) Creation of 75,000 New Medical Seats

To address the growing demand for healthcare professionals, the government announced the creation of **75,000 new medical seats** over the next five years. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, praised the National Medical Commission for adding 25,000 undergraduate and postgraduate seats in the last four years and encouraged them to meet the Prime Minister’s target of 75,000 additional seats.

Conclusion

These initiatives collectively reflect the Modi government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare and education in India. By focusing on accessibility, technological innovation, and capacity building, the administration aims to create a resilient and self-sufficient nation, ready to meet the challenges of the future.