NCDC has formulated an ambitious scheme to help cooperatives play an important role in creation of healthcare infrastructure in the country. The scheme, named Ayushman Sahakar is going to be launched by Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar on 19 October 2020.
Tomar is going to announce that NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of Rs 10,000 Crore in the coming years.
Sundeep Nayak, MD, NCDC added that there are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000. The NCDC fund would give a boost to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives.
Nayak said that the ongoing pandemic has brought into focus the requirement of creation of more facilities. NCDC’s scheme will be a step towards strengthening farmers welfare activities by the Central Government.
NCDC’s scheme aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017, covering the health systems in all their dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, access to technologies, development of human resources, encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable health care to farmers etc, reads a press release from the NCDC.
Cooperatives have hailed the decision and claimed that by virtue of their strong presence in rural areas, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would bring revolution in comprehensive health care services. It is also in line with the National Digital Health Mission launched by the Prime Minister on 15th August, 2020, they felt.
Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund. NCDC assistance will flow either through the State Governments / UT Administrations or directly to the eligible cooperatives. Subsidy / grant from other sources can be dovetailed.
Ayushman Sahakar specifically covers establishment, modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of hospital and healthcare and education infrastructure encompassing Hospitals,
Yoga Wellness Centre, Ayurveda, Allopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and other traditional medicine healthcare centres, Health care services for elderly,
The Fund would also support Palliative care services, Health care services for Persons with Disabilities, Mental healthcare services, Emergency Medical Services / Trauma Centre, Physiotherapy centre,Mobile Clinic Services and many others.
The scheme also provides working capital and margin money to meet operational requirements. The scheme provides interest subvention of one percent to women majority cooperatives.