Union Minister unveiled the theme for National Science Day 2023 (GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology released the theme for the "National Science Day 2023", titled "Global Science for Global Wellbeing".
- As India enters 2023, the theme indicates India's emerging global role and rising visibility in the international arena.
G20 presidency:
- The theme of “Global Science for Global Wellbeing” is perfectly in sync with India assuming the Presidency of G-20, where she will become the voice of the global south that is the developing countries of Asia, Africa and South America.
NSD:
- The National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on 28 February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’. Government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD) in 1986.
- On this day Sir C.V. Raman announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.
- On this occasion, theme-based science communication activities are carried out all over the country.
National Health Authority (NHA) introduces new system to measure and grade performance of hospitals empaneled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme.
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- With an objective to shift the focus of measuring performance of hospitals from volume of services provided to the value of healthcare services, National Health Authority (NHA) is introducing a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
Value-based care:
- Traditionally, from the payer’s perspective, the healthcare model has been focussed on the quantity of services delivered, where case-based bundled payment is made on the basis of the number of services provided.
- The new initiative will introduce the concept of ‘value- based care’, where payment will be outcome based and providers will be rewarded according to the quality of the treatment delivered. Under the new model, the providers will be rewarded for helping the patients improve their health, which consequently will reduce the effects of disease in the population in the long term.
- The step promises significant increase in the overall health gains and is expected to be a win-win for all concerned stakeholders from patients to healthcare providers, payers and suppliers.
- While the patients will get better health outcomes and higher satisfaction out of the services they receive, providers stand to get better care efficiencies. Similarly, payers will be able to maximize the health benefits generated out of the spending incurred.
- In a value-based healthcare system, the payers can also exercise strong cost controls. A healthier population with fewer claims translates into less drain on payers’ premium pools and investments. Suppliers would benefit from being able to align their products and services with positive patient outcomes and reduced cost.
- Altogether, value-based care promises to significantly improve healthcare landscape in India by incentivizing and encouraging healthcare providers to focus more on delivering patient centric services.
Indicators:
Under value-based care, the performance of AB PM-JAY empanelled hospitals will be measured based on five performance indicators such as:
- Beneficiary Satisfaction;
- Hospital Readmission Rate;
- The extent of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure;
- Confirmed Grievances and
- Improvement in-patient’s Health-Related Quality of Life.
- The performance of the hospitals based on the above indicators shall also be made available on a public dashboard that will help the beneficiaries to make an informed decision.
- In this way, the hospital performance shall not only determine the financial incentive of the hospital but also create a demand for quality treatment of beneficiaries under PMJAY.
Way Forward:
- Collectively these interventions of performance assessment and value-based incentives, use of health technology assessment, and use of digital tools to monitor the quality of care will transform AB PM-JAY and the Indian health system from a volume-based to a value-based health care delivery system.
India, Britain sign and exchange letters for Young Professionals Scheme
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- The governments of India and the U.K. marked Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9 by kicking off the Young Professionals Scheme, which will permit up to 3,000 of their degree-holding citizens aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in each other’s countries for a period of two years.
- The launch of the scheme, which was conceived as part of an India-U.K. Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021, was announced in November at the G20 summit in Bali, where U.K. Prime Minister held talks with Indian Prime Minister.
Key Highlights:
- Young Indians and Britons would be able to travel to each other’s countries either for work or study, or visit, for two years. The scheme allows for exchange visas for up to 3,000 individuals per year.
- Successful candidates could look for a job, educational or cultural opportunity once they arrived in their host country. Or they could just visit.
- The signing of the agreement belies more complex issues around the movement of persons across borders. Part of the Migration and Mobility agreement of 2021 seeks to address the return of illegal migrants to their home countries.
- The government is also seeking greater ease in the movement of skilled professionals and students from India to the U.K. as part of the trade discussions, the sixth round of which took place in New Delhi in December.
Way Forward:
- The scheme, which will run for a period of three years initially, would hopefully be “up and running in March”.
