Highlights
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the mega healthcare scheme Ayushman Bharat, also known as the Pradhan Mantri-Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY), from Ranchi in Jharkhand on Sep 23 and declared the scheme would be a “game changer” globally in health insurance.
- “This is the world’s largest health scheme which will serve a population tantamount to that of 27-28 European countries…more than all of America, Canada and Mexico put together,” Mr. Modi said, addressing a public meeting.
- The scheme provides an annual coverage of Rs.5 lakh per family for nearly 1,350 diseases.
- The eligible people can avail the benefits in government and listed private hospitals.
- There is no cap on family size and age to ensure that nobody is left out.
Holistic treatment
- “Our government thinks of health in a holistic manner. While we are investing to improve the infrastructure and human resources to provide medical care, we are also working towards preventive health care, be it the ODF (open-defecation free) mission, the scheme for concrete houses or others … all help towards improving the health sector,” he said.
- While launching a toll free number 14555 for people to get information about the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Mr. Modi laid the foundation stone for two medical colleges to be opened in Koderma and Chaibasa districts and 10 wellness centres in the State.
- The first five beneficiaries, Manju Devi Hembrom, Ruby Pravin, Chandan Kumar Ram, Mukesh Kumar and Poonam Devi, were given e-cards of the scheme.
- There will be 50 crore people who benefit under this scheme and for this, 13,000 hospitals across the country have been coordinated ,this scheme will strengthen our health services.
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