Transgender citizens to get healthcare services under Ayushman Bharat

New Delhi: In a landmark decision on Wednesday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Union Health Ministry and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide an inclusive and composite health package for transgender persons under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya hailed the MoU as one of its kind in the country which will give impetus to ensuring a rightful and respectable place for the transgender community by accessing healthcare services under AB-PMJAY.
“This MoU has laid the foundation for a landmark transformational reform in the society. The move which provides special healthcare benefits to the transgender community goes beyond ensuring equality for the disadvantaged community”, Mandaviya said.
Noting that the transgender community suffers stigma and exclusion, he stressed that the provisioning of healthcare services under AB-PMJAY is a significant step towards an inclusive society. “It is only apt that the MoU is being signed at Dr Ambedkar International Centre today, as he championed for an inclusive society with equality across all population groups in the country”, Mandaviya stated.
Also Read Goa govt to issue order to remove ‘Tiranga’ from houses Mandaviya emphasized that the government is working in a decisive way to not only recognize the rights of the transgender community but has taken various steps for their welfare. He congratulated the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for taking several initiatives for the transgender community, be it “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019”, Garima Greh, PM Daksh program or other schemes/initiatives taken recently.
Urging all sections of society to join hands in the efforts of the government for an inclusive society under the vision of ‘New India’ of the Prime Minister, he stated that “Disadvantaged communities can progress with dignity and self reliance with collaboration of “Sarkar and Society”.