Page 38 - Insurance Times May 2024

Tele MANAS- A

Comprehensive Mental

Health Care Service in

India: An opportunity

Sakshi Khotani
for Health Insurance Saloni Sinha Student- Trimester II,
Assistant Professor,
Sector Business Communication, PGDM IBM 2023-25
BIMTECH, Gr. Noida

Dr. Brock Chisholm, the inaugural Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), made
a foresighted statement, in 1954, that "true physical health can only exist in the absence of mental
health". After more than 60 years, not much has changed in the situation. There have probably
been mental health problems throughout human history, and it can be difficult to identify a single
setting that gave rise to these worries.

D r. Brock Chisholm, the inaugural Director-General 1. National Health Mission (NHM): The NHM is on a

mission to improve the availability, accessibility and
of the World Health Organization (WHO), made
affordability of public health services in the areas of
a foresighted statement, in 1954, that "true
physical health can only exist in the absence of
hygiene, immunisation, and nutrition especially for the
mental health". After more than 60 years, not much has women's health, child health, water, sanitation and
changed in the situation. There have probably been mental poor, women, and children living in rural areas. It
health problems throughout human history, and it can be created a set of specific targets based on indicators as
difficult to identify a single setting that gave rise to these an important step toward achieving SDG 3.
worries. Genetic, biological, environmental, and cultural
2. Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme: This
factors all play a role in the complex and multifaceted nature path breaking, inclusive health insurance scheme was
of mental health conditions. Historical accounts show that launched to provide free and equitable healthcare
different cultures have identified and recorded mental health services to approximately 500 million people belonging
issues in different ways throughout history. to the economically disadvantaged and underprivileged
strata of society by providing coverage of medical
United Nations introduced Sustainable Development Goals
treatment for serious illnesses.
(SDGs) were revised in 2015. Ever since, the various Goals and
Targets of SDG 2030 still remain a grand challenge. One of 3. Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across
the crucial global concern is SDG 3 which is all about States (Tele-MANAS): In the Union Budget 2022, the
promoting and guaranteeing healthy lives for people of all Finance Minister of India announced National Tele
ages. Since mental health pertains to both physical and mental Mental Health Program, Tele MANAS, with a vision to
well-being, it is an essential part of SDG 3. India has come a use digital tools to improve the efficiency and outcomes
long way in achieving SDG 3. Some of the path-breaking of the healthcare system, particularly in the area of
initiatives taken by the government in this regard are: mental health care.

The Insurance Times May 2024 35