The Union Health Minister chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi on a framework for expanding Project SARATHI nationwide.
SARATHI stands for Students' Alliance for Responsible Action to Transform Healthcare Institutes.
It is a youth-led, volunteer-driven initiative deploying trained student volunteers in public hospitals for non-clinical patient assistance.
Volunteers help with hospital navigation, wheelchair and stretcher mobility, OPD registration and locating diagnostic laboratories.
The project is integrated with the MY Bharat portal for volunteer registration and attendance, and supports creation of ABHA IDs.
Reduce the confusion and delay patients face in large public hospitals
Key: Volunteers assist with hospital layout navigation, wheelchair and stretcher mobility, OPD desk registration and locating diagnostic laboratories
Ensure patient safety and prevent volunteers straying into clinical work
Key: A structured framework restricts volunteers to supportive services only
Manage volunteers at scale
Key: Registration, attendance tracking and orientation run through the Viksit Bharat Youth Network portal
Bring patients into the digital health records system
Key: Volunteers assist with creating Ayushman Bharat Health Account identifiers
The programme under which ABHA health account identifiers are created and linked to digital health records.
The Viksit Bharat Youth Network platform launched to organise youth volunteering, used here for registration and attendance.
The umbrella programme for strengthening public health service delivery in India.
An established global model in which trained non-clinical staff guide patients through complex health systems, particularly in cancer care.
GS Paper II > Issues relating to health, government policies and interventions
General Awareness > Government schemes
General Awareness > Government initiatives
Students' Alliance for Responsible Action to Transform Healthcare Institutes — a student volunteer patient assistance initiative.
The Viksit Bharat Youth Network digital platform for youth volunteering and engagement.
Ayushman Bharat Health Account identifier, used to link a person's digital health records.
Assistance that does not involve medical treatment — navigation, mobility help and registration guidance.