The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has issued an update on Access to Healthcare Services for Transgender Community. This press release was issued on December 5, 2023.
As per the release, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY) has authorized a total of 761 hospital admissions, amounting to Rs. 1.12 Crores, exclusively for transgender beneficiaries.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) further extends the benefits of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to the transgender community.
Under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) framework launched by MoSJE, transgender individuals registered on the National Portal for Transgender Persons are now eligible for free healthcare facilities at any AB PM-JAY empaneled hospitals.
The government is also implementing the National AIDS Control Programme’s fifth phase. Transgender individuals are identified as a High-Risk Group (HRG) for HIV acquisition, and targeted interventions are in place for prevention, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and HIV testing. Free Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) and support services are provided to those affected by HIV/AIDS in a stigma-free and inclusive manner.
The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), integrated into the Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) Scheme, offers mental health services. AB PM-JAY covers 1949 procedures under 27 specialties, with 19 procedures dedicated to mental health. The launch of the “National Tele Mental Health Programme” (NTMHP) aims to improve access to quality mental health counseling and care services, benefiting eligible individuals, including the transgender community.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, provides Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 Crore poor families. The scheme identifies beneficiaries based on select deprivation and occupational criteria, ensuring flexibility for states to use non-SECC databases when necessary. This inclusivity ensures that any individual meeting the eligibility criteria is entitled to free healthcare services under the scheme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to universal healthcare.
