Awareness, perception, and utilization of the benefits of recently introduced health schemes among the general population of India: A narrative review

Abstract

Several health schemes have been introduced by the Government of India in recent years. It becomes essential to know the usefulness of these schemes. This narrative review was done to discuss the awareness, perception, and utilisation of the benefits of recent health schemes. Four schemes either introduced or revised between January 2016 and December 2021 namely AB PM-JAY, PMBJP, NPY, and PMSMA were discussed. Thirteen original articles related to these schemes fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria were identified using Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase, and PubMed databases.
 
 Awareness about AB PM-JAY was absent among 22.7% to 77% participants. The prerequisites for beneficiaries like non-payment of professional tax and non-ownership of certain household equipment were responsible for missing the benefits among some poor participants. About one-fourth of the participants reported poor awareness and attitude towards PMBJP. To support PMBJP, people wanted doctors to take the initiative by endorsing and prescribing generic medicines available under this scheme. Awareness about NPY was absent among 8.5% participants. As many as 21.5% to 71.5% of tuberculosis patients did not receive its benefits. Only 7.3% to 52.6% of the tuberculosis patients received the first incentive within two months of intensive phase. Common problems reported were unavailability of savings bank account or Aadhaar number, particularly among those from rural areas. About one-fourth of patients utilised the money to meet their family expenses. Hardly 5% were aware of PMSMA and among them just 32% had utilised antenatal care services. Counselling services were not offered to some beneficiaries. Few shortcomings in these health schemes were identified which need to be addressed by the stakeholders.