Transgender persons to get AB-PMJAY healthcare services under new MoU

New Delhi: In a landmark decision on Wednesday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Health Authority (NHA) under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide an inclusive and composite health package for transgender persons under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.

The MoU was signed by Dr R S Sharma, CEO, NHA and R Subramanyam, Secretary DoSJE in presence of Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union MoHFW and Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Terming this as a momentous day, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya hailed this MoU as one of its kind in the country which will give impetus to ensuring rightful and respectable place for 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”, he highlighted.

Noting that the transgender community suffers stigma and exclusion, he stressed that the provisioning of healthcare services under AB- PMJAY is a significant and firm 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”, Dr Mandaviya stated.

Dr Mandaviya emphasized that the government is working in a decisive way to not only recognize rights of the transgender community but has taken various systematic steps for their welfare.

Urging all sections of society to join hands in efforts of the government towards an inclusive society under vision of “New India” of Prime Minister, he stated that “Disadvantaged communities can progress with dignity and self reliance with collaboration of “Sarkar and Society”.