PM Modi to launch World’s largest healthcare funded program ‘Ayushman Bharat’ today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to launch the central government’s flagship scheme named, Ayushman Bharat ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ from Rajasthan today. If the scheme is implemented then each family will be given Rs 5 lakh annually for their healthcare services.

Keeping an eye on increasing death toll due to India’s current healthcare woes, as India has been facing directs threats from infectious disease like Malaria, Tuberculosis, H1N1and drug-resistant TB and the rising of non-communicable lifestyle’ like diabetes, heart attack and cancer.

The Prime Minister’s Ayushman Bharat scheme will reportedly provide cashless and paperless access to the beneficiary at the point of service. It will probably reduce the expenditure for health care and mitigate financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes. According to the report, in India over 17 per cent, people merely spend at least 10 per cent of the household budget for health services. 

The eligible person can avail the benefits of this scheme in both governments and listed private hospitals.

The identification will be conducted by Aadhaar card and will allow follow-up services and health outcomes to evaluate the impact of the program. The scheme is said to be an extension of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna or RSBY, a health insurance scheme for BPL families, in which they receive up to Rs 30k per annum.

This year, FM Jaitley had devoted Rs 52,800 crore for the health ministry, up by 11% and health minister JP Nadda Rs 2000 crore has been allocated as of now.

Even the World Health Organisation has been impressed by Modi’s flagship scheme and said, “Very impressed with India’s initiative on Ayushman Bharat or universal Health Coverage! Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi. Great commitment! Thank you, Minister of Health, @JPNadda, for meeting me today!,” Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ayushman Bharat scheme is being seen as one of the world’s largest funded healthcare program, in which 50 crore people will be given benefits.  PMJAY will provide a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs 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.

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”.

Modi is expected to visit an exhibition on the PMJAY after the inauguration of the scheme. He will also witness a demonstration of activities such as beneficiary identification and e-card creation.

If the report is believed, more than 24 per cent households in rural India and 18 per cent population in the urban area have met their healthcare expenses through some sort of borrowing. 

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