Exploring the Degree of Awareness of Medical Insurance and AB-PMJAY within Blue Collar Workers in Gurugram

Abstract

Globally, Healthcare is recognized as a human right, either directly, or as a part of the broader right to life. Therefore, healthcare systems of most countries strive to ensure universal access to healthcare. The Public Healthcare system of India has undergone multiple reforms to achieve this. The most recent development was Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Policy of 2017, which sought to prioritize Universal Health Coverage. Most of the research in this field had been centered on national-level analysis on the feasibility, efficacy, and implementation of PMJAY and thus, there is a glaring need to examine the specific awareness, accessibility, and availability of Public Healthcare to the financially weaker sections of the society. The present study aims at examining the awareness and experiences with PMJAY, Medical Insurance, and the Public Healthcare system. A mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to examine Public Healthcare, Medical Insurance, and Ayushman Bharat, including a survey and a qualitative schedule. The sample for the survey consisted of 48 blue-collar workers in Gurgaon. The data was interpreted through graphical representation and thematic analysis. It was found that migrants are less likely to be aware of Ayushman Bharat and that education level has a significant impact on the knowledge of the term medical insurance itself. Moreover, those with PMJAY cards had significantly lesser out-of-pocket expenditure. To address the issues found, awareness drives and camps specifically in migrant communities as well as the utilization of social service infrastructure like Community Service Centers was suggested.