PM Narendra Modi rolls out Ayushman Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rolled out the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana at Ranchi in Jharkhand. Touted as the world's largest government-sponsored healthcare programme, Ayushman Bharat will benefit over 50 crore people across the country. PM Modi said that the scheme would benefit the poorest people in the country.

"No other country is the world has such a large-scale healthcare programme. The total number of beneficiaries is more than the population of America, Canada and Mexico put together," he said. We have brought such a big scheme to people in a span of six months," PM Modi said.

Describing it as 'game-changer' scheme for the poor, the PM added that more than 13,000 hospitals have been added as part of the PMJAY. The government has even launched a helpline 14555 for the Ayushman Scheme. The scheme will provide a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Over 10.74 crore vulnerable entitled families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) will be eligible for these benefits. The healthcare programme is slated to provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda said the Centre's flagship scheme will bring a paradigm shift in the country's health sector. A 'golden card' will ensure their cashless treatment. In case a person does not have a card, he or she will be treated in any one of the 13,000 hospitals, which are part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, after taking the person's thumb impression, Nadda said.

Announcing the scheme on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi had said, "Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan will be launched on September 25 this year. It is high time we ensure that the poor of India get proper access to good quality and affordable healthcare."

The PM said that the scheme was based on the concept on 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', adding that no discrimination would be done on the basis of caste, community or religion.

Commenting on the launch of Ayushman Bharat scheme, Prathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals, said this scheme is for the greater public good. "While we all work together to ensure the success of this scheme, there are areas that need focus and fine tuning," he said. Reddy added that we need to weed out of potential frauds and ensure the benefits reach only those who really need it. Anupama Joshi, partner, Deloitte India, said that the scheme will help create additional hospital infrastructure across the country.

Meanwhile, Telangana, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala and Punjab told the Centre that they will not implement the programme till their concerns are addressed. The states said that they had better health assurance schemes. 

HEALTH IS WEALTH

• Ayushman Bharat scheme is billed as world’s largest healthcare programme 
   
• It will become operational from September 25
   
• 14,555 Helpline number for Ayushman Bharat scheme

50 crore people will be covered under the scheme irrespective of family size and age

10.74 crore poor families will get benefit of secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation in a network of govt and private hospitals 

Rs 5 lakh coverage will be provided per family annually under PMJAY

13,000 hospitals have been roped in under the scheme  

31 states and union territories have signed MoUs with the Centre