Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Ayushman Bharat

Mangalore Today News Network

Sep 23, 2018: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana at an event in Ranchi in Jharkhand. Addressing the gathering at the event in Jharkhand capital, Prime Minister Modi said that the scheme would benefit the poorest people in the country.

"No other country is the world has such large-scale healthcare programme," the Prime Minister said.

"We have brought such big scheme to people in a span of six months. I congratulate my whole team for this remarkable achievement. I believe that this team will work even more strongly now, because now they have the blessings of 50 crore poor people of this country," he added.

According to the Prime Minister, more than 13,000 hospitals have been added as part of the scheme.

"Though we are launching this scheme, but I still pray that no one faces a situation where they need to go to a hospital to avail this scheme. And unfortunately if you face any such situation, this scheme will be there to help you," said the Prime Minister.

He further said that trial for the rollout of the scheme was already being done in parts of the country.

Ayushman Bharat is considered to be the "world’s largest government-funded healthcare program" targeting more than 50 crore beneficiaries. It 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.

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".

Courtesy:zeenews